By Joyce Kryszak
http://stream.publicbroadcasting.net/production/mp3/wbfo/local-wbfo-937425.mp3
Buffalo, NY – The Seneca Nation is expected to announce Tuesday that it is applying for the license to run the Seneca Pumped Generating Station.
The facility was built 45 years ago after construction of the Kinzua Dam in Northern Pennsylvania that was protested by the Seneca Nation. The condemnation of Seneca land uprooted 600 hundred Senecas and flooded burial grounds.
And although the Seneca Pumped Generating Station bears the name of the Senecas, the Nation has never had anything to do with its operation - or its profits. It has always been operated by First Energy Corporation. Newly-elected Seneca President Robert Odawi Porter said it is time for that to change.
"The Seneca Nation was a victim of aggression by the United States to violate the Canandagua Treaty of 1794 to take the use of ten thousand acres of our land for the water and for the support for this facility," said Porter. "If justice is any measure here I believe the Seneca Nation should come out on top."
A new fifty-year license will be issued in 2015 by the Federal Energy Regulatory Commission. Over the next five year pre-application process, Porter said they are prepared to prove they have the means and ability to run the facility.
"One of the things we obviously need to work on is developing a partnership with an established hydro operator, but I don't think there is any question at this point that the Seneca Nation is capable of operating complex and sophisticated facilities like this," said Porter.
But they have heavy competition form the current operator.
First Energy Corporation spokesman Mark Durbin said FERC has good reasons to re-license First Energy.
"We have been operating this facility basically since it was built. We have a great deal of experience running pumped storage hydro facilities not just here so that combined with all the experience with have in the energy markets we think we're the best operator for this facility and that's what was communicated to FERC," said Durbin.
It is estimated the 400 megawatt hydro facility generates about 13 million dollars a year. Porter said the Nation could use that money and low-cost power for its economic development plans.