Federal Energy Regulatory Commission (FERC) Correspondence_Hydroelectric Copyright 2014
City of Dubuque Consent Items # 29.
ITEM TITLE: Federal Energy Regulatory Commission (FERC) Correspondence
SUMMARY: Correspondence providing the City's response to the Federal Energy
Regulatory Commission's (FERC) Notice of Preliminary Permit Application
proposing to study the feasibility of a hydroelectric project at Lock and
Dam No. 11 .
SUGGESTED DISPOSITION: Suggested Disposition: Receive and File
ATTACHMENTS:
Description Type
❑ City's Response Letter to FERC Supporting Documentation
❑ Notice from Sept 8 2015 City Council Meeting Supporting Documentation
Office of the Mayor
THE CITY OF Dubuque City Hall
50 West 13`"Street
R ��' Dubuque, IA 52001-4864
DUB L IldunericaCit' www.cityofdubuque.org
Ila
Masterpiece on the Mississippi
2aa7-2012,201
September 20, 2015
RE: Docket number P-14687-000
To Whom It May Concern:
In 2006 and every year since, the Mayor and City Council of Dubuque has identified
becoming a more Sustainable City as one of their top priorities for the community. They
define sustainability as the community's ability to meet the environmental, economic, and
social equity needs of today without reducing the ability of future generations to meet their
needs. Sustainable Dubuque is a holistic approach to making our community more
sustainable. Our model involves a three-part approach that addresses Environmental and
Ecological Integrity, Economic Prosperity and Social and Cultural Vibrancy.
A critical component of Environmental and Ecological Integrity relates to energy, and the
community has set an aggressive goal of reducing its greenhouse gas footprint by 50% by
2030. Renewable energy, such as hydro, if done correctly could be a critical part of this
community strategy. Given the goals and progress of Sustainable Dubuque it seems prudent
to be assured that anyone seeking a preliminary permit at Lock & Dam 11 prove the capacity
and interest to develop the site. Another option would be to seek the preliminary permit
ourselves, and to then seek parties who would have the technical expertise, financial capacity
and interest to perform.
Upon cursory review of the FERC document on this application, we would have the following
concerns:
Nothing contained within the application or supporting materials evidences the financial or
technical capacity to develop the site, nor any previous experience in the hydro-electric or
energy field in the United States.
Nothing in the application evidences any business relationship, negotiations, discussions or
even contacts to critical local Dubuque partners, including utilities, governmental authorities,
business or environmental groups.
There appears to be no formal existence of the applicant (Energy Resources USA Inc.) in the
United States, save for the FERC application itself and the business agent noted in the
application (Ander Gonzalez) does not appear to exist in the United States. After a quick
search we would presume that this person is actually Ander Gonzalez Escalante, New
Business Manager with Energy Resources S.A.. Please confirm if this company, located in
the city of Barcelona, Spain, is the actual applicant.
Given these concerns, we think it would be prudent that the applicant provide FERC (and the
City of Dubuque) with a more detailed analysis and provide a full review of their capacity
(both technical and financial) and their timeline for exploration of the feasibility at the Lock &
Dam 11.
Also, we would like to inquire if an application could be amended to assure that the City of
Dubuque is not prohibited from pursuing feasibility review of the project separately at any
time during the period that this applicant holds a preliminary permit.
City of Dubuque staff can be contacted directly regarding this comments:
Assistant City Manager Teri Goodmann, tgoodman(o).citvofdubugue.org or 563.589.4110 or
Sustainable Community Coordinator Cori Burbach, cburbachQcitvofdubugue.org or
563.589.4110.
Sincerely,
J YL/I
D. Buol
ayor
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RECEIVED
/(=D � 0001371365AUG. 20. 2015.
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City Clerk's Office
Dubuque-, I�
Docket No.: P-14687
Dubuque City Clerk
City of Dubuque
50 W 13th Street .
Dubuque, IA` 52001-
5
I
UNITED STATES OF AMERICA Project No. 14687-000 -2-
FEDERAL ENERGY REGULATORY COMMISSION from the issuance of this notice. Competing applications and notices of intent must meet
the requirements of 18 CFR 4.36. The Commission strongly encourages electronic filing.
Energy Resources USA Inc. Project No. 14687-000 Please file comments,motions to intervene,notices of intent,and competing applications
using the Commission's eFiling system at htip://www.ferc.gov/docs-filing/efiling.asp.
NOTICE OF PRELIMINARY PERMIT APPLICATION ACCEPTED FOR FILING Commenters can submit brief comments up to 6,000 characters,without prior registration,
AND SOLICITING COMMENTS,MOTIONS TO INTERVENE,AND COMPETING using the eComment system at http://www.ferc.gov/docs-filing/ecomment.as]). You must
APPLICATIONS include your name and contact information at the end of your comments. For assistance,
please contact FERC Online Support at FERCOnlineSupport@ferc.gov,(866)208-3676
(August 20,2015) (toll free),or(202)502-8659(TTY). In lieu of electronic filing,please send a paper copy
to: Secretary,Federal Energy Regulatory Commission,888 First Street,NE,Washington,
On June 25,2015,the Energy Resources USA Inca filed an application fora
preliminary permit under section 4(f)of the Federal Power Act proposing to study the
DC 20426. The first page of any filing should include docket number P-14687-000.
feasibility of the proposed Lock and Dam No.I l Hydroelectric Project No.14687-000,to More information about this project,including a copy of the application,can be
be located at the existing Mississippi River Lock and Dam No. 11 on the Mississippi viewed or printed on the"eLibrary"link of Commission's website at
River,near the City of Dubuque,in Grant County,Wisconsin. The Mississippi River http://www.ferc.-ov/docs-filina/elibrary.asp. Enter the docket number(P-14687)in the
Lock and Dam No. 11 is owned by the United States government and operated by the docket number field to access the document. For assistance,contact FERC Online
U.S.Army Corps of Engineers. Support at 1-866-208-3676.
The sole purpose of a preliminary permit,if issued,is to grant the permit holder
priority to file a license application during the permit term. A preliminary permit does not
authorize the permit holder to perform any land-disturbing activities or otherwise enter Kimberly D.Bose,
upon lands or waters owned by others without the owners'express permission. Secretary.
The proposed project would consist of: (1)a new 770-foot-long by 300-foot-wide
earthen intake area;(2)a new 220-foot by 90-foot concrete powerhouse containing four
2.5-megawatt hydropower turbine-generators having a total combined generating capacity
of 10 megawatts;(3)one new 1000-foot-long by.220-foot-wide tailrace;(4)a new intake
retaining wall and new tailrace retaining wall each measurina 85-foot-long by 43-foot-
high by 3-foot-thick;(5)a new 50-foot by 60-foot switchyard;(6)a new 1.52-mile-long,
69-kilovolt transmission line;and(7)appurtenant facilities. The project would have an
estimated annual generation of 119,655 megawatt-hours.
Applicant Contact: Mr.Ander Gonzalez,2655 Le Jeune Road,Suite 804,Coral
Gables,Florida 33134;telephone+34 932523840.
FERC Contact: Tyrone A.Williams,(202)502-6331.
Deadline for filing comments,motions to intervene,competing applications
(without notices of intent),or notices of intent to file competing applications: 60 days