The Low Impact Hydropower Institute (LIHI) has granted its 200th Low Impact certificate in the US to Natel Energy's Monroe Drop hydropower project in Oregon.
Situated on an irrigation canal in Oregon's Deschutes River Basin, the Monroe Drop project operates passively during the irrigation season, running solely on canal flow and without storage, thereby posing minimal ecological impact.
For nearly 25 years, LIHI has been the sole national independent program responsible for evaluating and certifying hydropower projects based on their environmental, recreational, and cultural impacts. The institute was established in 1999 during the early stages of electricity market deregulation, when the demand for "green power" began to surge. While the definitions of "green" or "renewable" energy varied, it was generally acknowledged that consumers sought power sources with minimal adverse effects. Despite hydropower's utilization of a renewable resource - water - concerns persisted regarding its impact on aquatic ecosystems. In response, LIHI emerged from a collaborative effort among conservation, marketing, and green power organizations to create a voluntary standard that would recognize and provide economic incentives to hydropower owners who operated their facilities in accordance with established environmental criteria.
After 23 years since issuing its first Low Impact certification, the Monroe Drop hydropower project becomes the 200th LIHI Certified® project. Situated on an irrigation canal in Oregon's Deschutes River Basin, the Monroe Drop project operates passively during the irrigation season, running solely on canal flow and without storage, thereby posing minimal ecological impact.
Shannon Ames, Executive Director of LIHI, highlighted the institute's distinctive criteria that can be applied to a wide range of hydropower projects. Each certified project demonstrates location-specific strategies to prioritize environmental considerations. The Monroe Drop project, in particular, exemplifies how innovative owners can operate a project that aligns with power, environmental, and community needs. Ames stated: "Not only does the project have minimal impact and utilize existing infrastructure, but it also is being used by Natel Energy as a full-scale test site to advance fish-safe turbine technology as part of their efforts to develop hydropower solutions that support efficient energy production and fish safety."
Gia Schneider, co-founder and CEO of Natel Energy, emphasized the importance of adhering to sustainability standards to combat global warming and maintain the health of rivers. Natel Energy pursued LIHI certification for the Monroe Drop Project to underscore the significance of meeting these standards while simultaneously supporting ecosystem function alongside energy production.
“We are thrilled to celebrate Monroe as LIHI’s 200th certified project, and we encourage other project owners to work with LIHI to evaluate their assets’ ecological footprints so that as an industry we can deliver truly sustainable renewable energy,” Schneider commented.
