America’s largest portfolio of new hydro-electric projects on existing dams, FFP New Hydro LLC, has announced the receipt of hydropower licenses from the Federal Energy Regulatory Commission (FERC) for four projects located on the Muskingum River in Ohio.

The four projects are expected to have a combined generating capacity of 15 megawatts (MW) from plants added to existing Lock and Dam facilities owned and operated by the Ohio Department of Natural Resources.

FFP New Hydro also has final license applications pending for two more projects on the Muskingum River.

“The development of the Muskingum River hydropower projects will represent an investment of more than $100 million in the state of Ohio. Each project will create 100 to 150 jobs during construction as well as continued staffing and service employment during operations,” said Ramya Swaminathan, CEO of FFP New Hydro. “The clean, reliable electricity produced by the projects will be enough to power over 7,500 homes and businesses and will be a long term resource for the region.”

The hydropower projects, at Philo, Rokeby Lock, Malta, and Beverly have gone through an extensive study process at the FERC. The licenses represent the culmination of over four years of significant investment and effort.

“We are grateful for the assistance of Senator Rob Portman and Representatives Pat Tiberi, Bill Johnson, and Steve Stivers and for their support of our license applications,” added Swaminathan. “Ohioans are fortunate to have representatives who understand the challenges of developing new sources of low-cost electricity in Ohio, are willing to fight for good jobs and significant investment in the State.”

The projects are expected to start construction by 2017 and commence operations by 2018.

“I am excited for the jobs this will bring to the Muskingum River region and for the great potential of hydropower to add to the diverse, all-of-the-above energy portfolio our country needs to be energy independent and economically secure,” Stivers said.