Tuesday January 13, 2026
Active NorCal —
A long-simmering fight over the future of two dams on Northern California’s Eel River has taken a new turn, with federal officials stepping in as Pacific Gas and Electric Co. moves closer to dismantling the century-old Potter Valley Project.
The U.S. Department of Agriculture has formally intervened in the regulatory process surrounding PG&E’s request to surrender its hydropower license and decommission the project, which includes Scott Dam in Lake County and Cape Horn Dam in Mendocino County. PG&E has argued that the aging system is costly to operate and no longer makes economic sense, prompting its request for approval from the Federal Energy Regulatory Commission.