Forest, Lake And Communities Coalition- FLACC

This is great news about the lake.

https://www.facebook.com/100057852560873/posts/739664677971944/?mibextid=2JQ9oc

We want to know what you are doing while waiting out this storm?

We'll go first - we're scrubbing FERC's website for any updates to the LEAPs project.

Leave us your favorite hurricane activity in the comments!

No news is good news! We haven't seen any submissions from Nevada Hydro or other companies on FERCs eLibrary for similar projects. In the meantime, keep an eye out for a series of fun facts about the Elsinore Valley.

Our Board members Loy, Hannah, and John visited the Rancho Capistrano community yesterday to give a short update to their Board during an annual meeting. We're happy to come chat with your neighborhood at an official event, too! Leave a comment if you'd like us to visit your community.

Curious to know why FERC denied Nevada Hydro's preliminary application? Let's go through some main points (a series) -

"Several commenters and intervenors note that Nevada Hydro has repeatedly submitted proposals for the LEAPS Project over the last several years and has failed to provide the necessary information for the Commission to issue a license for the project, resulting in an outdated, infeasible proposal. Specifically, the Tribe asserts that in the December 9 Delegated Order dismissing the license application, Commission staff directed Nevada Hydro to include “all requested information” in any subsequent refiling, and that the permit application should be dismissed because Nevada Hydro failed to do so. The Forest Service states that, while it does not oppose issuance of the permit, it is concerned with Nevada Hydro’s prior deficient applications, and encourages the Commission to require Nevada Hydro to use the ILP in any future licensing proceeding to ensure that appropriate, updated information is filed.
Commenters and intervenors also express concern that Nevada Hydro does not have adequate financial resources or
qualified management to conduct the necessary studies and complete the license application process."

Our voices were heard! Thank you to everyone that submitted letters to FERC and to those that filed as an intervenor.

FERC recently denied Nevada Hydro's most recent application (P-15261) outright! They cited that Nevada Hydro failed, over and over again, to fulfill needs by the USFS as a main reason. FERC also states Nevada Hydro is not able to submit similar applications in the future!

Great news!

But - we think another developer will have eyes on this site for a hydro facility. Make sure you're following us to keep up with the latest news.

Now that the fight is quiet - we'll focus our energy on why the Lake Elsinore Valley is so wonderful!

https://m.facebook.com/story.php?story_fbid=10228013375015598&id=1110138963&mibextid=Nif5oz

Our friend, and supporter, Steve Manos, said it best! The Bluewater Project application has been stopped by FERC once again! This is great news and a huge blow to the momentum they thought they had. We'll keep a close eye on FERC's site because we know Bluewater will try to beg for forgiveness.

Thank you all for your continued fight! Stay vigilant - we think they'll be back again.

https://m.facebook.com/story.php?story_fbid=613246267280453&id=100057852560873&mibextid=Nif5oz

OFFICE OF ENERGY PROJECTS

Project No. 14227-006 – California
Bluewater Renewable Energy
Storage Project
The Nevada Hydro Company, Inc.

VIA FERC Service

Mr. David Pfeiffer
The Nevada Hydro Company, Inc.
538 Monte Vista Avenue
Glendale, California 91202

Reference: Dismissal of License Application

Mr. Pfeiffer:

On December 9, 2021, Commission staff issued a letter dismissing Nevada Hydro
Company’s (Nevada Hydro) license application for the proposed Lake Elsinore Advanced Pumped Storage (LEAPS) Project No. 14227 without prejudice. The application was dismissed due to Nevada Hydro’s failure to conduct studies needed for the U.S. Forest Service (Forest Service) to issue a special use authorization for the proposed project or amend the 2005 Cleveland National Forest Land Management Plan (LMP). The dismissal letter stated that Nevada Hydro could refile the application if the Forest Service’s requested information is included.

On October 21, 2022, Nevada Hydro filed an amended license application for what has been renamed the Bluewater Renewable Energy Storage (Bluewater) Project. Although the updated proposal modifies the length and location of the proposed project’s transmission line so that it would no longer be located on Forest Service land, other project works would occupy approximately 100 acres of Forest Service land. The amended license application does not include the Forest Service’s requested information.

On December 8, 2022, the Forest Service filed a letter confirming that Nevada Hydro has not provided the previously requested information and that it must independently develop the necessary information and provide it to the Forest Service for consideration of a Special Use Permit. Further, the Forest Service states that the amended license application for the Bluewater Project proposes significant changes to the Project No. 14227-006 2
LEAPS Project that would necessitate new information gathering and analysis. The Forest Service has stated that it cannot consider issuing a special use authorization for the project or amend the 2005 Cleveland National Forest LMP without the outstanding information.

Subsequently, on December 15, 2022, Nevada Hydro filed a response detailing its efforts to address the Forest Service’s information needs, including developing a study of transmission routing alternatives and a phased work plan for the requested geotechnical and seismic studies. Nevada Hydro states that the remaining studies cannot be completed independently as requested by the Forest Service, because “Nevada Hydro would have no assurance the studies would meet the Forest Service’s information needs given the reconfigured project proposal.”

The December 9 dismissal letter specified that Nevada Hydro may refile a license application if it includes all the Forest Service’s requested information. The Forest Service’s and Nevada Hydro’s apparent disagreement on whether Nevada Hydro should conduct the remaining studies independently without Forest Service assistance does not relieve Nevada Hydro from conducting the studies and gathering the information required by the Forest Service and then incorporating it in its license application as specified by the December 9 dismissal letter. Therefore, Nevada Hydro’s license application is dismissed without prejudice. As we stated previously, any future license application for the proposed project must include all the information requested by the Forest Service.

This dismissal is issued under authority delegated to the Director and constitutes final agency action. Requests for rehearing by the Commission may be filed within 30 days of the date of this letter, pursuant to 18 C.F.R. § 385.713.

If you have any questions, please contact Tim Konnert at (202) 502-6359, or [email protected].

Sincerely,
VINCENT Digitally signed by VINCENT
YEARICK
YEARICK Date: 2023.02.21
08:50:59 -05'00 '
Vince Yearick
Director
Division of Hydropower Licensing Project No. 14227-006 3
CC:

Paul Anderson
The Nevada Hydro Company, Inc.
538 Monte Vista Avenue
Glendale, California 91202

Michael Swiger
Van Ness Feldman LLP
1050 Thomas Jefferson Street, NW
Seventh Floor
Washington DC 20007

Want to help stop this project? Write a quick ecomment to FERC! Here's how-

1. Visit FERC’s Quick Comment Website at https://ferconline.ferc.gov/FERCOnline.aspx
2. Select “eComment – Submit an eComment electronically”
3. Fill out necessary contact information
4. An email will be sent to the submitted email address and follow the provided link
5. Once in the provided eComment page, enter Docket number P-14227 and select “Search”
6. Select the small blue cross to tag your comment to the Docket
7. Write your comment in the field provided. Quick comments are limited to 6000 characters.

Copy this:
Bluewater's application for the Bluewater Renewable Energy Storage Project should be declined. There is no water available in California to support the resevoir and keeping the lake at levels needed for operation. And, there is no way to gaurantee water availability many years in the future. Because of this, we ask that FERC declines their application.

Leave us a comment on this post when you're done! Thanks!

FERC Online - Home Page

Let's start the year by writing letters to FERC to remind them that the community still doesn't want this project! It's quick and we have something that you can copy and paste into the Comments:

Follow these directions:
1. Visit FERC’s Quick Comment Website at https://ferconline.ferc.gov/FERCOnline.aspx
2. Select “eComment – Submit an eComment electronically”
3. Fill out necessary contact information
4. An email will be sent to the submitted email address and follow the provided link
5. Once in the provided eComment page, enter Docket number P-14227 and select “Search”
6. Select the small blue cross to tag your comment to the Docket
7. Write your comment in the field provided. Quick comments are limited to 6000 characters.

Copy this:
Bluewater's application for the Bluewater Renewable Energy Storage Project should be declined. There is no water available in California to support the resevoir and keeping the lake at levels needed for operation. And, there is no way to gaurantee water availability many years in the future. Because of this, we ask that FERC declines their application.

Leave us a comment on this post when you're done! Thanks!

FERC Online - Home Page

Happy New Year everyone! Let's work together to stop Bluewater in 2023. Be sure to turn on notifications for this page for the latest updates

Leave us a 💪 in the comments if you're in the fight with us!

https://www.facebook.com/100064467019332/posts/545590257599870/?mibextid=Nif5oz

Lake Elsinore Historical Society

Program: Elsinore Fault Zone

Speaker: David S. McElroy, M.A.

Join us for our Member’s Meeting and Presentation

Tuesday, January 3, 2023 1—3 pm
Lake Elsinore History Museum in the Cultural Building
183 North Main Street
Lake Elsinore, CA 92530
(Use the Heald Street entrance on the right side of the building)

OR Join us on Zoom
Lake Elsinore Historical Society is inviting you to a scheduled Zoom meeting.

Topic: Lake Elsinore Historical Society's Zoom Meeting
Time: Jan 3, 2023 12:45 PM Pacific Time (US and Canada)

Join Zoom Meeting
https://us02web.zoom.us/j/82758353865?pwd=VnlMSU1CQVFWaXorTVRrSHRFd0N6Zz09

Meeting ID: 827 5835 3865
Passcode: 505661
One tap mobile
+16699006833,,82758353865 #,,,,*505661 # US (San Jose)
+16694449171,,82758353865 #,,,,*505661 # US

Dial by your location
+1 669 900 6833 US (San Jose)
Find your local number: https://us02web.zoom.us/u/kdttwV7pEf

Folks, we need a letter writing campaign to FERC. It appears that Bluewater/ Nevada Hydro is using these communities open houses as public outreach instead of scoping. FERC needs to be made aware that we, the community, do not support this project.

Next up! We asked Bluewater about the originally proposed powerline route.

Their answer: They do not have the southern route of powerlines in their initial plan. However, they said directly to our Board Member that the southern powerlines through the San Mateo Wilderness are not out of the question if another developer wants to do them in the future. The powerlines running north of the project are now a lower capacity and will run underground.

The Powerlines that we're all so concerned about running south along the ridge and through the forest could still happen! We need to stop this project outright to keep those powerlines away!

A few Board Members went to the Open House on Tuesday night. We'll post what we learned peice by peice. But, let's start with the main question - who are these people?

They claim to be a California based company. The only thing California about them is the project. All upper management sits comfortably from their homes across Canada. They took over this project in 2022 after having a very minority stake in Nevada Hydro since 2017.

They're bending the truth on something so small. What else are they not telling us?

Are you here?

Join us TONIGHT!

Together, we can keep this project out of our lake and forest.

Will you be there on Tuesday?

We will be! We'll be asking all the questions and challenging all of their "positive community benefits."

Help us help you! Show up, even for a minute, to show them we don't want there horrible project!

Bluewater wants to hear from YOU! Show up for a few minutes to tell them why you oppose this project!

Tuesday December 6, 2022. 6-8p. Lakeland Village Community Center.

https://www.zocalopublicsquare.org/2022/06/07/rural-california-energy-storage/ideas/essay/

The Rural Price Tag of California’s Clean Energy Transition | Essay California Is Scrambling to Find Places Like Rural Areas to Store Clean Energy—But Even Renewable Sources Make an Environmental Impact.

Tuesday, December 6th. Let's show up in force! They are counting on light crowds. Let's show Blue Water who we are!

OPEN HOUSE: Bluewater Renewable Energy will have an open house for the project formery known as LEAPS on Tuesday, Dec. 6, from 6 to 8 p.m., at the Lakeland Village Community Center Multipurpose Room, according to Paul Anderson, Bluewater's vice president sustainability.

Bluewater expects to hold another community meeting in December. Keep an eye out for the details. The next one should be in Lakeland Village. We'll be there. Will you? Leave a comment with you main question for them.

FERC has given Bluewater the rights to stay on the old docket number P-14277. We're reviewing their document submission now.

Keep an eye out on ways to make sure your voice is heard by FERC!

Nevada Hydro submitted a plea to FERC asking to grant them a preliminary permit so NH can develop a modified project proposal that fits our needs.

We're curious - you believe that any new project proposal would really fit our needs? Let us know in the comments:
🤬 = Heck no!
🙃 = maybe they've turned a new leaf
🤥 = absolutely!
🧐 = let's see what they have to say

https://elibrary.ferc.gov/eLibrary/filelist?accession_num=20220701-5363

eLibrary

Thank you all that wrote to FERC to voice your opinion on the project! Your thoughts will be heard.

Now - we wait. We wait for FERC's response to all of our comments to see what steps come next. Let's keep those positive thoughts going that this project will get squashed here and now!

We'll keep you updated with any news as soon as we hear it!