FERC to install new water turbines, ignores environmental risk

Pinched between a rock and a hard place, the FERC (Federal Energy Regulatory Commission) unanimously decided to install highly innovative water turbines, for a monitored period of time, at the risk of disturbing the ecosystems of the deep.

The project, which has already begun, will be tested in the Mississippi River in Hastings, Minnesota, where the legwork for licensing agreements has already been completed.

The hydrokinetic turbines will coincide with Hastings existing electrical infrastructure and it hopes to supplement the energy that is supplied by the already existing dam in Hastings by creating an energy density much stronger than that of wind. According to the FERC Press Release, the hydrokinetic project would generate as much as 364 megawatt-hours.

The FERC oversees all hydrokinetic projects, including large dams, and maintains the same regulations for all its projects, making it USUALLY very difficult for companies like Hydro Green—the company designing the water turbines—to gain approval. This project, however, will be implemented with great enthusiasm from the FERC.

FERC Commissioner, Philip Moeller said “I am thrilled to support today's historic order that allows for harnessing more power from the Mississippi River.” His enthusiasm, however, seems conditional, and rightly so.

Once the project is operational, the FERC will require Hydro Green to closely monitor water quality, fish and diving bird survival. Additionally, they will have the responsibility of controlling zebra mussels. If the project creates adverse effects in the Mississippi’s ecosystem, Hydro Green will be required to modify or remove the new hydrokinetic project.

What’s scary about the project is that Hydro Green will be monitoring those effects. Among all the optimism of another renewable energy resource, perhaps we need to be a little more wary or our greed for energy. Is it worth it to jeopardize the underwater environment for the sake of energy the same way we have jeopardized the atmosphere?

I am not saying this is not a worthy project. I am saying we should consider having a third party look into the effects the water turbines might have on the Mississippi’s ecosystem.

It seems the hurdles by the FERC are not accurately placed. Let’s not put borders around innovation, whether in water or air, but instead on safely monitoring how those innovations change the world, both for the good and the bad, that we are trying to revive.