| Our Understanding Of The Riverbank Sparta Project |
Riverbank Sparta Pumped Storage Project Overview
March 29, 2009
Sparta Township leased the Limecrest Quarry to a company called Riverbank Power Corporation for the purpose of developing a pumped-storage hydroelectric generation facility with annual rent paid to Sparta of $5 million per year. On January 19, 2009 Riverbank Power submitted an application for a Preliminary Permit to the Federal Energy Regulatory Commission (FERC) for a pumped storage project in Sparta under the name of Riverbank Sparta, LLC. It is an underground hydro generation facility, referred to as an Aquabank™. As a pumped storage facility, it is configured to generate electricity for approximately 6 hours a day during peak electrical demand. Eight hours of the cycle will be used to pump the water from the underground storage reservoir back up to the quarry using the reversible turbines as pumps.
To give you a sense for the size of the facility, to create the energy, it will use water from the Limecrest Quarry channeling it through an intake structure, with four parallel intake units. Each intake unit will be 13 feet by 13 feet and will be 17 feet above the bed of the quarry. Using the force of gravity, the water will flow down four 13 foot diameter vertical pipes lined with steel and concrete to a powerhouse constructed about 2,000 feet underground. The powerhouse will be 415 feet long by 220 feet wide by approximately 160 feet high. This part of the facility will be a little over 2 acres in size. Once underground, the water will be stored in six underground storage galleries, a lower reservoir. Each gallery will be about 90 feet wide and 150 feet high. The total combined length of the six galleries will be 14,018 feet. That is a little over 2.65 miles.
It will take 4 years to complete the construction of this facility. The amount of rock and material excavated during construction to accommodate a facility of this size 2000 feet underground will be enormous. The potential impact to our environment and aquifer could be significant.
The water taken from Limecrest Quarry during the power generation cycle will be approximately one billion gallons of water. During this cycle, one billion gallons of water will flow from the quarry to the reservoirs below ground and then will be pumped back up to the quarry during the night or off-peak hours. This is what Riverbank refers to as a closed loop system.
The plan that was submitted to FERC shows double circuit 500,000 volt transmission lines that route west from the Quarry through Lafayette, Andover, Newton, Byram, Sparta and Jefferson. It is estimated that these transmission lines will be on structures 190 feet high. Although Riverbank has stated that they would bury the lines through residential areas, questions remain if this is possible. These high-voltage transmission lines will connect with the planned PSE&G Susquehanna-Roseland Powerline project ending at the proposed new substation located in Jefferson Township.
Stop The Lines is a public awareness campaign to oppose the Susquehanna-Roseland Powerline project. Although it is related, it is a different project than the Sparta Pumped Storage project.
It is important to note that the direct route from the Quarry to the Jefferson substation is a straight line through Sparta. We have been told that the proposed route on the application was given to Riverbank from PJM Interconnections due to existing right of ways. PJM is a regional organization that manages the electricity grid for 13 states. However, the transmission lines from the Riverbank project will not go on existing right of ways. Their application to FERC states that it will run parallel to existing overhead electrical right-of-ways. The size of the additional right of ways required is not specific, but our understanding is that an additional 300 feet may be required. This will be devastating to many communities.
In the month since we found out about this project, Riverbank has publicly stated that they are studying multiple routes that would have minimal impact to residential areas to bring the power to the electric grid. There are alternative routes to get to the Jefferson substation that do not go through other townships that would not reap the financial benefit of the facility.
Although there are multiple pumped storage facilities in existence, the Riverbank project is the first to propose putting this type of technology completely underground.
Riverbank is currently evaluating four other sites for projects with similar plans.
Two already have their FERC preliminary application approved.
One is in Wiscasset, Maine on the site of the former Maine Yankee nuclear power plant. It is planned to use the Sheepscot River as its water source. Riverbank, while presenting the project to the planning board and general public, emphasized the importance of the company’s dependence on community support for the project before proceeding.
The other is in Odgensburg, NY, near the Ontario border using the St. Lawrence River as its water source. The FERC preliminary permits for these projects were issued in March. P-13290, P-13288
The other two sites are both on the Hudson River, very close to the Indian Point nuclear power facility. Verplanck in Cortland, Westchester County NY (P-13358) and Tomkins Cove in Stony Point, Rockland County NY (P-13359) both of these applications for the FERC preliminary permit were submitted 1/27/09.
The Riverbank Sparta Pumped Storage Project is identified by FERC Docket /Project number P-13353. The FERC preliminary permit was submitted on January 27th. The preliminary permit gives the applicant the right to study the site and prepare a license application. It does not authorize construction of a facility.
FERC is currently reviewing the Riverbank preliminary permit to determine if the application is complete. Once they determine the application is complete, a notice will be given to the public to submit comments regarding the permit. There will be at least a 30 day period for the public to submit comments.
The Commission will consider all comments filed in making its decision whether or not to issue a preliminary permit. We want all concerned citizens to file comments with the FERC process. It is important that these comments be clear, well thought out and directed towards specific impacts.
FERC has noted in the approval for the Wiscasset and Odgensburg permits that issues related to construction and on-going operations are not considered as part of the preliminary permit process and should be submitted in the next phase to be considered as part of the license application process.
It has been stated that this project is the infancy stages. As far as the FERC process, that is correct however significant testing has already been completed by Riverbank Power. According to their website, the completed milestones are:
- Financial Model Deemed Viable
- Initial Geology and Hydrology Report
- Interconnection Request
- Real Estate under Control
- Pre-Feasibility Engineering Study
- ISO Scoping Meeting
- ISO Feasibility Study
- ISO System Impact Study Agreement
- FERC Application for Preliminary Permit
The next step of test drilling will begin in the next few weeks once the DEP issues the appropriate permit. This drilling will take place 24 hours a day, 7 days a week.
Clearly Riverbank is very far down the path on the viability of this project.
Riverbank has stated in their application to FERC that it provides the public with a reliable source of green, renewable power. Renewable energy is energy which is generated from natural resources which are naturally replenished. Many types of hydroelectric power are renewable, such as some hydroelectric dam facilities. However a hydroelectric pumped storage application represents a net load on the system. It uses more power to pump the water back to the upper reservoir than it generates. It is incorrect to classify it as providing renewable power.
The Andover Township Council is committed to the opposition of this project. Andover Township has secured legal counsel who is an expert in the FERC process as well as a hydro-geologist. It is very important to discuss the issue with the other impacted municipalities and have an aligned opposition.
It is critical for everyone to get involved in the process. There are significant negative impacts to our communities. In the few weeks since we became aware of this project, we have tried to educate ourselves and ensure that our opposition is known. There is a lot that individuals can do. We have begun to form subcommittees to investigate several main areas – environmental impacts, utility right of ways, the FERC process, government authority for the process.
A sustained opposition to the project is important. Please get involved.
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