Mokelumne Pumped Storage Project - P-14796
Updated 8.31.22
In collaboration with a number of other Conservation groups, we submitted comments on the Scoping Document 1, the Pre-Application Document (PAD) and the proposed study plan for P-14796, the Mokelumne Pumped Storage Project proposed by GreenGen LLC. You can read our comments here.
Scoping Document Released
GreenGenStorage Team
GreenGen LLC, owners of the proposed Mokelumne Pumped Storage Project, will be filing its Pre-Application Document (PAD) and Notice of Intent (NOI) with the Federal Energy Regulatory Commission (FERC) in early April as part of the FERC official licensing process. GreenGen held a virtual public open house from 2 to 5 p.m., Thursday, March 31, 2022.
View the presentations and the meeting summary here
The Foothill Conservancy will fully participate in the FERC process and will be doing outreach to interested parties, keeping the public informed, and preparing comments where appropriate in the process. Stay tuned for updates.
What is the GreenGen Project?
The Mokelumne Pumped Storage Project would be located on the Upper Mokelumne River.
The project will pump water from Salt Springs Reservoir up to Lower Bear River Reservoir when renewable electric generation exceeds customer load on the grid and electricity prices are low. Then it will deliver water from Lower Bear River Reservoir down to Salt Springs Reservoir and generate electricity when customer load exceeds renewable generation and prices are high, typically between about 4 and 9 p.m. Pumped storage projects typically consume more electricity than they generate. Construction elements would include a water conveyance tunnel, a powerhouse, transmission line, and other infrastructure needed to connect the two reservoirs.
What are our main concerns with project?:
- Potential dam raises
- Recreational impacts.
- Potential impacts to PG&E’s Mokelumne River Project 137.
- Water quality impacts such as temperature, turbidity.
- Project feasibility (i.e. power transmission and water rights).
- Impact of climate change on project operations.
- Wildfire risk.
- Biological impacts to native habitat and sensitive wildlife species
- Potential impacts to wild and scenic river segments
How you can help:
- Contact meredith@foothillconservancy.org to be added to the Mokelumne Pumped Storage Project contact list. Please feel free to let us know your main concerns.
- Attend the June 30 vitural scoping meeting to learn more about the project, and share any concerns and questions you may have.
- Tell people you know about this project and make them aware of the potential issues.
- Follow us on social media and share our outreach materials.
- Submit written scoping comments by August 8th, 2022. Reach out to the email above if you are thinking of writing comments
