It is almost always easier to ask for forgiveness than permission.  It is just this kind of beaurocratic boondogle that makes me think we might as well be in the 1970's USSR.  While we are touting green hjobs we are stewing in our own juices so to speek.  If it were me I would be sorely tempted to go ahead and get the job done and let them come find me.  Good luck.
  ----- Original Message -----
  From: mike matheson
  To: microhydro@yaho...
  Sent: Thursday, October 06, 2011 11:47 PM
  Subject: [microhydro] Microhydro Permits in Washington State


    
  I remember some time ago there was  discussion on this site about getting permission from Washington State DOE to set up and run a unit here. I have a salvaged Pelton wheel, most of the needed penstock in place and stream with a 90 ft. waterfall. I applied to DOE over two years ago and got no reply. When I wrote them their response was that they were so very busy they just thought they would never get around to looking at my application, even though it was for nonconsumptive use which is supposed to be at the top of the priority list for applicants. They said that if I hired a private consultant to do what I would consider their work (for about $5,000) they might consider looking at my application. Does anyone have any suggestions on getting around this bottleneck? Many people have suggested I just put the unit in without permission but I want it to be grid tied and am sure the local utility will want me to have all the permits in place.Michael

  --- On Mon, 9/26/11, bfay@swif... <bfay@swif...> wrote:

  From: bfay@swif... <bfay@swif...>
  Subject: Re: [microhydro] Re: Proposal to restore HYDRO-POWERED VILLAGES IN MAINE.....any experience.!!.
  To: microhydro@yaho...
  Date: Monday, September 26, 2011, 7:20 PM

  

  Dear Joel:

  Our new plant, Indian River HEP, on the Westfield River had its 7 foot diameter by 60 foot long penstocks and pressure cases filled 1/2 way up with sand and gravel. The flood water overtopping the dam pushed gravel and rocks into our tailrace and blocked off the draft tubes.

  The person who got devastated, was my good friend, Chris Krueger. He owns Brockway Mills HEP on the Williams River. He has 112 sq mi of drainage area. He has never seen more then 5000 cfs in his river. During Irene, the flow in the river went from 175 cfs to a cataclysmic 48, 900 cfs in a span of 6 hours. This is a good sized flow on the Connecticut River with 6000 sq. mi. of drainage area. Chris has never seen more than 5 feet of water over his dam. The flood crest peaked at 22 feet over his dam. It filled the 3 story powerhouse up to its top with muddy water. All of his electronics, switch gear, electrical breakers and hydraulic systems were destroyed. Karen and I went up the following Wednesday and shoveled out mud for the afternoon. Chris is such a wonderful, upbeat person, but I have never seen him so down.

  My other good friend, Jay Boeri, had his Northfield, VT plant flooded out. The bakery upstream had just finished baking its bread for the day. All of the loaves of bread ended up with the mud in his powerhouse. He spent days shoveling out fermenting mud. Simon Pierce's dam, powerhouse and glass blowing works were badly damaged.

  The silver lining is that no one was killed or injured. I really appreciated Suzy's support and her referral of my site to others. I started the website as an online reference for me. The site has really taken off and I am receiving 300 to 400 hits per day from all over the world. I keep adding things to it. Today I found my original powerhouse design notes, with all of my sketches, for the Natick Dam in Pawtucket, RI, that I made for John Webster many years ago. I am going to scan it and put it on the site.

  Thank you so much for your support, Nando's support, Suzy's support and all the wonderful people on the micro hydro Yahoo group. Nando is incredible!! I am amazed at his Herculean efforts at responding to everyone's e-mails. If he ran for President, he would have my vote!!!

  Sincerely,

  Bill Fay

  Sincerely

  ----- Original Message -----

  From: joel@horn...

  To: microhydro@yaho...

  Sent: Monday, September 26, 2011 11:44 AM

  Subject: Re: [microhydro] Re: Proposal to restore HYDRO-POWERED VILLAGES IN MAINE.....any experience.!!.

  Hey Willian sorry you got hit so hard by Irene. I always keep updated on your site. I was happy to see your daughter on here as well.

  hang in there and I hope things come back together for you quickly.

  Joel

  From: bfay@swif...

  Sent: Sunday, September 25, 2011 4:54 PM

  To: microhydro@yaho...

  Subject: Re: [microhydro] Re: Proposal to restore HYDRO-POWERED VILLAGES IN MAINE.....any experience.!!.

  Howdy Suzy:

  I ave been a liitle down because of Irene. We all got hit pretty bad. Thanks for your wonderful support of an old man !!!! God bless you, your sweetheart and your children. If this is inappropriate, good bless you as an incedibly, sweet person!!

  Quite beutifically,

  I remain,

  William K. Fay P.E. President,

  Swift River Hydro Operations Company

  PS: Nirvanah is always near!!!

  ----- Original Message -----

  From: susankaveny1

  To: microhydro@yaho...

  Sent: Sunday, September 25, 2011 11:36 AM

  Subject: [microhydro] Re: Proposal to restore HYDRO-POWERED VILLAGES IN MAINE.....any experience.!!.

  Look at Frenchriverland's website. That's a good place to look at restored hydro plants and a good place to look at the process. It takes a while to load because it has LOTS of pictures. You may want to use it as a reference source, too.

  Sue Kaveny

  --- In microhydro@yaho..., "Frank" <fjheller@...> wrote:

  >

  > Hi..I've developed an initiative for the Governor's Energy 'czar' that would

  > restore and enhance many of the once prosperous hydro-powered villages in

  > Maine. The dams, sluices, penstocks, and tidal gates would be restored in a

  > way to enhance the quality of the water; facilitate fish migration up & down

  > stream; generate power for a local grid; and renovate associated mills for

  > retail, professional, and residential use.

  >

  >

  >

  > Does anyone have experience in any or some of the areas covered by this

  > initiative? I'm especially interested in innovative adaptive innovations

  > and costs for each element.

  >

  >

  >

  > Frank J. Heller, MPA

  >

  > KATAHDIN ENERGY WORKS

  >

  > www.KatahdinEnergyWorks.com

  >

  > 12 Belmont St.

  >

  > Brunswick, Maine 04011

  >

  > .N. New Englands' MICROHYDRO specialist!

  >

  >

  >

  >

  >

  > [Non-text portions of this message have been removed]

  >

  [Non-text portions of this message have been removed]

  [Non-text portions of this message have been removed]

  [Non-text portions of this message have been removed]

  [Non-text portions of this message have been removed]



  

[Non-text portions of this message have been removed]