Relicensing: CVF

Crescent & Vischer Ferry Relicensing: Harnessing Small Renewable Hydropower

On June 26, 1984, the Federal Energy Regulatory Commission (FERC) issued 40 year licenses to the New York Power Authority for the Crescent (P-4678) and Vischer Ferry (P-4679) Hydroelectric Power Projects. The operating licenses for these small renewable hydropower projects will expire on May 31, 2024. NYPA is applying for a new FERC license and will use this site as a repository for all public documents prepared during the relicensing process. Please consult this page regularly for updates or join our mailing list: CVF.Relicensing@nypa.gov.

Crescent Project: 
The Crescent Project is an 11.8 MW conventional hydroelectric project located on the Mohawk River, approximately 4 miles upstream from its confluence with the Hudson River. The Crescent Project is located in Saratoga, Albany, and Schenectady Counties, New York, and in the towns of Waterford, Colonie, Halfmoon, Clifton Park, and Niskayuna. It is located 2 miles upstream of the School Street Hydroelectric Project. The Crescent impoundment is approximately 10 miles long and the upstream terminus of the impoundment is located at the Vischer Ferry Project Dam.

Vischer Ferry Project:
The Vischer Ferry Project is an 11.8 MW conventional hydroelectric project located on the Mohawk River, approximately 14 miles upstream from its confluence with the Hudson River, and approximately 10 miles upstream of the Crescent Project. The Vischer Ferry Project is located in Saratoga and Schenectady Counties, New York, in the towns of Clifton Park and Niskayuna and the City of Schenectady. The Vischer Ferry impoundment is 10.3 miles long and the upstream terminus of the impoundment is located at Lock E8 in Schenectady.

NYPA is using FERC’s Integrated Licensing Process (ILP) which requires consultation with state and federal resource agencies, Native American tribes and other interested parties. This consultation will establish project-related issues, define studies to evaluate and address issues, and provide for review and comment of study results, license application documents and other materials.

The formal relicensing process began with the filing of the Notice of Intent (NOI) and Pre-Application Document (PAD), which NYPA submitted to FERC on May 3, 2019.

The Pre-Application Document (PAD) describes the project and its operation and any known existing impacts. The ILP is timeline driven by FERC regulations and a preliminary schedule of major milestone is available:

Relicensing also requires review by the following state and federal regulatory entities: New York State Department of Environmental Conservation (NYDEC), U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service (USFWS), New York State Historic Preservation Office (SHPO).

 

The relicensing process of the Crescent and Vischer Ferry Projects will include the active involvement of federal and state resource agencies, local governments, citizens’ groups, Native American Nations, non-governmental organizations and other interested stakeholders (collectively, “Stakeholders”). To that end, this Communications Protocol establishes a framework for dissemination of information, coordination and dialogue for the stakeholders involved in the relicensing process.

The Power Authority will compile and maintain a mailing list of all stakeholders for the purpose of consultation and notification. The list will include stakeholder’s mailing address, email and or telephone number and will be used to provide notice of any public meetings and the availability of information for public review. NYPA will use email notifications when possible. 

NYPA values stakeholder input and urge all interested parties to join our mailing list by sending an email to CVF.Relicensing@nypa.gov with the above mentioned information.  


During the relicensing process stakeholders will have the opportunity to provide comments to FERC. FERC strongly encourages electronic filing of comments and interventions. In order to eFile comments and/or interventions, interested parties must have a FERC eRegistration account.

All correspondence (electronic or hard copy) to FERC should be addressed to:

Kimberly D. Bose, Secretary
Federal Energy Regulatory Commission
888 First St. NE
Washington, DC 20426

Quick Links to FERC eRegister, eFile and Comments:

Crescent Final License Application (FLA) | May 2022 :

Vischer Ferry (VF) Final License Application (FLA) | May 2022 :

Crescent Draft License Application (DLA) | Dec. 2021:

Vischer Ferry (VF) Draft License Application (DLA) | Dec. 2021:

Previous meetings held:

November 2023:

  • FERC Technical Mtg. (Nov. 8)

February 2020:

  • Update Study Report (USR) Mtg. (Feb. 20)

March, 2021:

  • Initial Study Report (ISR) Meeting (March 3)

Oct., 2019:

  • Study Plan Meeting (Oct. 23)


July, 2019:

  • Environmental Site Review (July 10)
  • Scoping Meetings (July 10 & 11)