Energy Northwest operates the
27.5-megawatt Packwood Lake Hydroelectric Project near the town of Packwood in
Lewis County, Washington. The project is located at Packwood Lake and along Lake
Creek, a tributary to the Cowlitz River.
The Federal Energy Regulatory
Commission licensed the project effective March 1, 1960 with a 50-year
operating license. In October 2018, FERC issued the renewed operating license to Energy Northwest to operate and maintain the Project for a period of 40 years. This license is subject to the terms and conditions of the Federal Power Act (FPA), which is incorporated by reference as part of this license, and subject to the regulations the Commission issues under the provisions of the FPA.
Energy Northwest filed a new
license application on Feb. 22, 2008, pursuant to the Federal Power Act and
Federal Energy Regulatory Commission regulations for the Integrated Licensing
Process at 18 CFR §5.18 and associated sections. Under the Integrated Licensing
Process regulations, a license applicant must file a Preliminary Licensing
Proposal. Energy Northwest consulted extensively with the natural resources
agencies and tribes who contributed to the development of the Preliminary
Licensing Proposal and proposed numerous measures for the protection and
enhancement of the project’s resources. The Preliminary Licensing Proposal
contained results of 23 studies and was
submitted to Federal Energy Regulatory Commission on Sept. 14, 2007. Energy
Northwest submitted Notice of Intent and Pre-Application Document on Nov. 10, 2004.