On 15th March, FERC granted a preliminary permit to Metro Hydroelectric, a subsidiary of Advanced Hydro Solutions, despite opposition to the project from the Ohio Environmental Protection Agency, Metro Parks, Serving Summit County and environmentalists. The permit gives the company exclusive rights to the site for three years, during which time Metro Hydroelectric must determine whether the project is feasible.
By early to mid 2007, the company will be able to determine whether it intends to seek a final federal permit that would allow the US$4M plus project to proceed. Metro Hydroelectric wants to use the existing 17m high dam that is owned by Akron’s First Energy Corp to develop hydro power.