Feds Again Dismiss Massive Hydroelectric Proposal For Lake Elsinore

LAKE ELSINORE, CA — A proposed hydroelectric project that was planned to span through the Cleveland National Forest — west of Lake Elsinore, Wildomar, Murrieta and Temecula — has been denied again by federal officials, the latest in a string of rejections for the proposal that has resurfaced for decades.

On May 18, the Federal Energy Regulatory Commission denied a preliminary permit for the proposal better known as the "Lake Elsinore Advanced Pumped Storage Project," or LEAPS brought forward by Nevado Hydro Company aka Bluewater Renewable Energy Storage.

In its denial letter, the federal agency said, "In sum, Nevada Hydro has had many years to develop its project proposal without success, and has repeatedly failed to provide information required by the Forest Service, which manages the land on which the project would be located. Accordingly, we find that no purpose would be served by again issuing a preliminary permit to Nevada Hydro. In addition, we are concerned with expending stakeholders’ and staff resources on a project that has failed to progress. Therefore, Nevada Hydro’s preliminary permit application is denied."

The Nevada Hydro proposal dates back to at least 1995. Preliminary permits were repeatedly granted by FERC but Nevada Hydro never met federal requirements to move the project forward. Subsequently, FERC would halt the project. Instead of giving up, however, the company kept reapplying for permits.

This time, FERC appears to have lost patience with Nevada Hydro, though the company can appeal the May 18 decision. It's unclear whether it will.

The LEAPS project proposed to generate electricity onto the state's electrical grid, but the plan would require installing 32 miles of 500 kV transmission lines and towers through the Cleveland National Forest from Lake Elsinore to Camp Pendleton. The project would also consist of reservoirs with a set of tunnels running between them: the water in Lake Elsinore would serve as a lower reservoir; an upper reservoir would be constructed in the Cleveland National Forest at Decker Canyon (just south of state Route 74). A pump/powerhouse facility would also be built near the lake, on the west side of Grand Avenue near Lakeland Village.

Under the Bluewater name, Nevada Hydro did scale back its most recent plans. The company proposed a "primary" 230 kV transmission line, approximately 8.5 miles in length, extending from Lakeland Village north to Temescal Valley, just east of the Cleveland National Forest boundary. Where possible, the line would be underground, according to the company.

The company also promised to enhance lake levels and water quality in Lake Elsinore.

But even the latest iteration failed to see Nevada Hydro/Bluewater provide forest officials with the required documentation, according to the May 18 dismissal.

See a copy of the latest FERC documents here.