Opinion ID: 1536299
Heading Depth: 3
Heading Rank: 6

Heading: Hydroelectric Power, Section 636(7)(F)

Text: [¶ 28] SOS argues that the Board made inadequate findings with respect to hydroelectric power generation. The Department and the Board both made findings with respect to hydropower generation, and the generating capacity of the dam and concluded that the proposed partial removal of the dam will result in only a small decrease in hydropower generating capacity and annual energy output in the State. Notably, the State Planning Office stated in its comments on the partial removal of the dam that the energy loss is not significant from a statewide energy perspective. We cannot say that these findings are not supported in the record. [¶ 29] Finally, although the Board did not assign a specific value to each of the considerations discussed above, the Board and Department used language weighing each consideration, and concluded that the dam removal would not have an overall significant negative impact on the environmental and energy considerations. The Board properly balanced the section 636(7) criteria in determining that the advantages of the project are greater than the direct and cumulative adverse impacts.