Baker River Relicensing: About

In April 2004, Puget Sound Energy submitted a License Application for the Baker River Hydroelectric Project using the Federal Energy Regulatory Commission's Alternative Licensing Procedures, a new licensing process with an emphasis on collaboration and the involvement of interested parties from the beginning. During the process, more than 100 representatives of the public, tribal organizations, governmental agencies and special interest groups actively participated.

The Baker relicensing process began in March 2000 with two public meetings, and many additional meetings and studies later, proceeded in 2004 with the filing of a License Application. FERC acted on the application in October 2008 with the issuance of a new, 50-year operating license for the Baker River project. Some of the teams and working groups formed eight years earlier to help PSE develop a relicensing proposal continue their work today to help PSE implement the new license’s many provisions.