The Colorado hydropower industry experienced rapid change in 2011. A Memorandum of Understanding (MOU) created in 2010 between the State of Colorado and the Federal Energy Regulatory Commission (FERC) forged a new path to expedite low-impact project permitting. As a result, projects that historically took three or more years for permitting were moving through the process at a record pace, in some cases taking less than six months. The Colorado Governor's Energy Office (GEO) recognizes the potential of low-impact hydropower resources in the state and the cost benefits of reducing the permitting burden. Streamlining the permitting process for low-impact projects creates new opportunities for the industry to utilize existing water infrastructure resources and maximize the benefit of Colorado's natural resources.
