USDA Intervenes in Potter Valley Hydroelectric Project Proceedings

(Washington, D.C., December 19, 2025) – In a significant move to safeguard agricultural interests, U.S. Secretary of Agriculture Brooke L. Rollins has officially filed a notice to intervene in the ongoing proceedings of the Potter Valley Hydroelectric Project, currently under review by the Federal Energy Regulatory Commission (FERC). This intervention ensures that the concerns of the National Forest Service, local farmers, ranchers, agricultural producers, and communities are adequately represented.

Protecting Agriculture and Rural Communities

“If this plan goes forward as proposed, it will devastate hundreds of family farms and erase over a century of agricultural tradition in Potter Valley,” stated Secretary Rollins. “Water is the lifeblood of farming. Without it, crops fail, businesses close, and rural communities crumble. Generations of farmers have utilized this water for productive purposes. However, California’s current leadership appears to prioritize the needs of fish over hardworking families, a sentiment that is unequivocally wrong.”

Rollins emphasized that the proposed changes could jeopardize countless USDA investments, leaving families even more vulnerable to drought and wildfire, thus prompting her intervention in the FERC proceedings to advocate for the well-being of these stakeholders.

Secretary Rollins’ Comments to FERC

In addition to her notice of intervention, Secretary Rollins submitted comments urging FERC to reject Pacific Gas and Electric’s (PG&E) application to surrender its license for the Potter Valley Project. She called for the rejection of the application unless significant deficiencies are addressed, ensuring that USDA’s ability to protect its programs and advocate for farmers and communities reliant on the project’s water flows is maintained. Interested parties can read the full comments (PDF, 610 KB).

Background and Economic Impact

The USDA has expressed serious concerns over PG&E’s application due to its potentially devastating and irreversible effects on local agricultural stakeholders and USDA programs. Various USDA divisions, such as the National Forest System (NFS), Farm Service Agency (FSA), and Rural Development, would be adversely affected.

For context, the counties of Lake, Mendocino, Sonoma, Humboldt, and Marin collectively generated over $1.4 billion in agricultural product sales, translating to an estimated $4.2 billion in additional economic activity, based on standard multipliers typically applied in the nearby Central Valley.

Community Response

In a testament to the community’s concerns, Secretary Rollins recently received a letter from over 920 local residents expressing serious reservations about the proposed project’s decommissioning plan. Acknowledging these fears, the Secretary also authored an op-ed, further highlighting the issue.

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