FERC, Dam Operator Spar Over Flooding Mitigation Obligations

The Federal Energy Regulatory Commission defended in briefing at the D.C. Circuit orders that required the Grand River Dam Authority to acquire and maintain property outside a hydroelectric project’s boundaries to mitigate flooding.

The commission’s orders “were reasonable and reasonably explained in all respects,” so Grand River’s petition for review of the orders should be denied, FERC said in its brief filed Tuesday.

Grand River, for its part, accused FERC of not obeying the court’s instructions following a 2022 remand.

Miami, Okla., blamed the Pensacola Project—a hydroelectric system owned by Grand River and managed for flood control operations by the ...