FERC Approves Xcel Energy's St. Anthony Falls Hydroelectric Project with Conditions

Strategic Insights -

Xcel Energy's hydroelectric project, located at St. Anthony Falls, was recently inspected by the Federal Energy Regulatory Commission (FERC) as part of its dam safety program. The inspection, led by Mr. Paul Kokoszka and Kevin Griebenow, confirmed that the project's structures were in compliance with FERC's safety standards. However, the inspection team identified a few concerns and recommendations for improvement, including the need for additional documentation and threshold levels for piezometers. FERC approved Xcel Energy's extension of time to provide a plan to evaluate options for abandoning the east and west branches of the Eastman Tunnel. The project's ongoing secant cutoff wall construction project aims to address the issue of active seepage through the Hennepin Island Earth Dam embankment.

Key Takeaways:

  • The FERC conducted a dam safety inspection (DSI) of the St. Anthony Falls Hydroelectric Project on September 11, 2025, and confirmed that all project structures were inspected with no deficiencies observed that required immediate remedial action.
  • The March 2025 Dam Safety Surveillance and Monitoring Report (DSSMR) indicated that the dam is safe, with the existing instrumentation and dam safety surveillance monitoring program being suitable for identified critical Potential Failure Modes (PFMs).
  • The secant cutoff wall construction project aims to address the active seepage through the Hennepin Island Earth Dam (HIED) embankment and will provide long-term seepage control in the structure.
  • Action and threshold levels for new piezometers (PZ-1R and PZ-2R) should be established and documented in the DSSMP by April 1, 2027.
  • The March 2025 DSSMR fulfills the annual requirement under Chapter 14 - Appendix K of the FERC's Engineering Guidelines.
  • Xcel Energy was granted an extension of time until the completion of the ongoing study of the Government Cutoff Wall to provide a plan to evaluate options for abandoning the east and west branches of the Eastman Tunnel.

Statistics:

  • The dam safety inspection was conducted on September 11, 2025.
  • The secant cutoff wall construction project began on July 11, 2025.
  • The March 2025 DSSMR indicated that the dam is safe and the existing instrumentation and dam safety surveillance monitoring program are suitable for identified critical Potential Failure Modes (PFMs).
  • 2 new piezometers (PZ-1R and PZ-2R) were installed in 2025 to replace existing piezometers.
  • The DSSMP must be updated by April 1, 2026, with the boring logs and piezometer installation details.
  • The plan and schedule to address the outstanding Independent Consultant's 2024 Part 12D recommendations, provided in Table 1 of the DSSMR, remains acceptable and satisfies the requirement of 18 C.F.R., Part 12, Subpart D, SS 12.41 (a)(2).

Sources:

  • FERC Delegated Order: FEDERAL ENERGY REGULATORY COMMISSION Office of Energy Projects Division of Dam Safety and Inspections Chicago Regional Office In reply refer to: P-2056 October 17, 2026 Via Electronic Mail Mr. Donald Hartinger Plant Director, Renewable Operations - Hydro Xcel Energy Donald.R.Hartinger@xcelenergy.com
  • October 8, 2025 Construction Inspection - Post-Inspection - March 2025
  • December 26, 2024 - Extension of Time Request - Eastman Tunnel Abandonment
  • March 2025 Dam Safety Surveillance and Monitoring Report (DSSMR)