Sustainable Energy Solutions and a World Class River

As sustainable energy generation becomes increasingly important, the role of hydroelectric power will continue to expand. However, this expansion must occur in a well-reasoned and balanced manner to be fully compatible with enlightened contemporary values. Federal licensing of four hydroelectric facilities (two existing and two proposed) in an historic urban reach of the Mississippi River required many years of effort. The process involved numerous political jurisdictions, many resource management agencies and a broad range of stakeholders. In each case, the license applicant had to demonstrate that future hydroelectric operations would be fully compatible with the multiple authorized uses of the river corridor — and would not have objectionable environmental or social consequences. The diverse issues and concerns that were raised addressed to achieve the required degree of compatibility, may be of interest to others involved in the quest for sustainable energy solutions.