The Real Cost of Licensing: Financial Realities for Hydropower and Pumped Storage Facilities

This session provides a candid examination of the true costs associated with licensing and relicensing hydropower and pumped storage projects.

Industry experts will break down the full spectrum of expenses, including consultant fees, environmental studies, stakeholder engagement, legal costs, and agency coordination over multi-year timelines.

-- Get insight about often-overlooked costs such as staff time, capital improvements required for new license conditions, ongoing monitoring and reporting obligations, and financial uncertainties throughout the process.
-- Explore cost management strategies, how project economics influence relicensing decisions, and real-world examples of budget overruns and their causes.
-- Gain realistic expectations for relicensing investments and insights into how operators are navigating these financial challenges while maintaining project viability.

Presenter(s)

Jonathan DiCesareSenior Regulatory Compliance AdvisorPatriot HydroModerator

Sandy SlaytonSenior Project Manager/Principal ConsultantRye DevelopmentPanelist

Alan StuartLicensing Project ManagerDuke Energy CorporationPanelist

Janet WaltherDirector of Hydro Licensing and CompliancePacific Gas & Electric Company (PG&E)Panelist