The federal government may soon put the kibosh on a controversial and long-delayed plan to build an underground hydro-electric power plant near the Stone Arch Bridge.
Crown Hydro, LLC, obtained a license 13 years ago for a 3.4-megawatt plant powered by the Mississippi River. But the project stalled because of continued opposition from local activists and the Minneapolis Park and Recreation Board, which owns a proposed site.
Last month, the Federal Energy Regulatory Commission sent notice that they may soon revoke the license because "[Crown Hydro] has failed to complete construction of the project as licensed, and [the commission's] findings fail to show it can do so in the near future."
That could spell the end of the project, unless someone makes the case why the license should be extended. Park Board Commissioner Liz Wielinski, who has opposed the project, is not ready to declare victory.
"For me, it's a welcome sign that they're finally taking this seriously," Wielinski said. "But until every single door is closed, I'm not assuming that it's completed yet. Because it's come back many many many many times."
An attorney for Crown Hydro, Tim Keane, said they plan to file a motion to intervene before the July 19 deadline. He noted that they are now pursuing using a plot of land owned by the Army Corps of Engineers.
"The FERC is aware of that — that we are no longer pursuing the location on Park Board property," Keane said. FERC's notice addressed the new site plan, observing that "there is still no expectation that [Crown Hydro] will complete construction of the project in the forseeable future."
Even that site that could prove problematic. The Army Corps has raised its own concerns with the plans, and using the land would require extensive analysis and signoff from the Corps' chief engineer in Washington, D.C.
