[Federal Register Volume 88, Number 128 (Thursday, July 6, 2023)]
[Notices]
[Pages 43112-43113]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]
[FR Doc No: 2023-14258]


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DEPARTMENT OF ENERGY

Federal Energy Regulatory Commission

[Project No. 15287-000]


HGE Energy Storage 3 LLC; Notice of Preliminary Permit 
Application Accepted for Filing and Soliciting Comments, Motions To 
Intervene, and Competing Applications

    On September 27, 2022, HGE Energy Storage LLC, filed an application 
for a preliminary permit, pursuant to section 4(f) of the Federal Power 
Act (FPA), proposing to study the feasibility of the Fort Ross Pumped 
Storage Project to be located in Sonoma County, California, adjacent to 
the Pacific Ocean, approximately 1.5 miles northwest of Fort Ross State 
Historic Park. The sole purpose of a preliminary permit is to grant the 
permit holder priority to file a license application during the permit 
term. A preliminary permit does not authorize the permit holder to 
perform any land-disturbing activities or otherwise enter upon lands or 
waters owned by others without the owners' express permission.
    The pumped storage hydropower project will consist of: (1) a new 
upper reservoir with a surface area of 23 acres and a storage volume of 
5,600 acre-feet at a maximum water-surface elevation of 1,500 feet mean 
sea level; (2) a 12,000 foot-long, 10-foot-diameter steel-lined conduit 
that connects the reservoir to the powerhouse; (3) a 250-foot-long, 30-
foot-wide, 100-foot-high, steel-reinforced concrete powerhouse 
constructed 100 feet below ground level, with five 250-megawatt (MW) 
reversible variable-speed pump-turbines, with a combined installed 
capacity of 1,250-MW that discharge into the Pacific Ocean; (4) a 100-
foot-high, 30-foot-wide

[[Page 43113]]

vertical access tunnel from ground level to the powerhouse; (5) a 
vertical intake structure and breakwater of undetermined size and 
design to lead from the tailrace to the powerhouse and to dissipate 
discharge energy; (6) a 500-foot-long, 250-foot-wide concrete-lined 
tailrace; and (7) a 0.5-mile-long, 69-kilovolt line extending from the 
powerhouse to a planned AC-DC converter station. The estimated annual 
energy production of the project would be approximately 3,714,406 
megawatt-hours.
    Applicant Contact: Mr. Wayne Krouse, HGE Energy Storage 3 LLC, 2901 
4th Avenue South, #B 253, Birmingham, AL 35233; email: 
[email protected]; phone: (877) 556-6566 X 709.
    FERC Contact: Shannon Archuleta; email; [email protected]; 
phone (503) 552-2739.
    The Commission's Office of Public Participation (OPP) supports 
meaningful public engagement and participation in Commission 
proceedings. OPP can help members of the public, including landowners, 
environmental justice communities, Tribal members, and others, access 
publicly available information and navigate Commission processes. For 
public inquiries and assistance with filings such as interventions, 
comments, or requests for rehearing, the public is encouraged to 
contact OPP at (202)502-6595 or [email protected]. Comments, motions to 
intervene, competing applications (without notices of intent), or 
notices of intent to file competing applications should be submitted 
within 60 days from the issuance of this notice. Competing applications 
and notices of intent must meet the requirements of 18 CFR 4.36.
    The Commission strongly encourages electronic filing. Please file 
comments, motions to intervene, notices of intent, and competing 
applications using the Commission's eFiling system at https://ferconline.ferc.gov/FERCOnline.aspx. Commenters can submit brief 
comments up to 6,000 characters without prior registration using the 
eComment system at https://ferconline.ferc.gov/QuickComment.aspx. You 
must include your name and contact information at the end of your 
comments. For assistance, please get in touch with FERC Online Support 
at [email protected], (866) 208-3676 (toll-free), or (202) 
502-8659 (TTY). Instead of electronic filing, you may submit a paper 
copy. Submissions sent via the U.S. Postal Service must be addressed 
to: Kimberly D. Bose, Secretary, Federal Energy Regulatory Commission, 
888 First Street NE, Room 1A, Washington, DC 20426. Submissions sent 
via any other carrier must be addressed to: Kimberly D. Bose, 
Secretary, Federal Energy Regulatory Commission, 12225 Wilkins Avenue, 
Rockville, Maryland 20852. The first page of any filing should include 
docket number P-15287-000.
    More information about this project, including a copy of the 
application, can be viewed on the Commission's website (http://www.ferc.gov) using the ``eLibrary'' link. Enter the docket number (P-
15287) in the docket number field to access the document. For 
assistance, do not hesitate to get in touch with FERC Online Support.

    Dated: June 29, 2023.
Debbie-Anne A. Reese,
Deputy Secretary.
[FR Doc. 2023-14258 Filed 7-5-23; 8:45 am]
BILLING CODE 6717-01-P


