AUBURN -- The Placer County Water Agency is moving forward with studies on how to best market the hydroelectric energy produced by its Middle Fork American River Project in future years.

 In an update Thursday (Feb. 18) to the PCWA Board of Directors, Director of Strategic Affairs Einar Maisch said the studies are part of the agency’s ongoing project to obtain a new federal license for the Middle Fork Project.

 The power project includes five hydroelectric power plants and produces an average 1 billion kilowatt-hours of energy per year.  It was built under a federal license granted in 1963.  The original license expires in 2013 as does the agency’s power sale contract with the Pacific Gas & Electric Company.

 Maisch said PCWA is in consultation with four power marketing organizations, including PG&E, as it works to chart its future course.  He said meetings will commence soon with the Roseville-based Northern California Power Agency.

 “They have a lot of experience,” he said.  ”We’ve got a lot to learn about all the things that need to be done.”

 The agency has been carefully researching the power market in collaboration with the County of Placer.

 Maisch said the agency intends to develop a business model for future power sales by this summer and be in position to recommend a business partner for board approval by the end of the year.

 In other business, directors:
 • voted to oppose a current proposal before the State Senate Budget Committee that would require state and local government, non-profits and companies to withhold a three percent tax on payments made to independent contractors.  Officials said the measure would create undue burdens and hardships on employers and contractors while providing only an acceleration of revenue, not generating new revenue.
 • heard a presentation from Director of Customer Services John Kingsbury on the water agency’s cross-connection program.  The program, which includes backflow prevention devices on all commercial and some residential treated water connections, is designed to protect the public health and mandated by state law.
 • received awards and heard staff presentations on two major projects that were recognized Feb. 9 by the American Society of Civil Engineers (ASCE), California Chapter.  The American River Pump Station and River Restoration Project was named as the ASCE’s project of the year while the Ophir Road Pump Station was recognized as an outstanding integrated design project.

 The next regular meeting of the PCWA Board of Directors will be held at 2 p.m. on Thursday, Mar. 4, at the PCWA Business Center, 144 Ferguson Road, in Auburn.  PCWA board meetings are open to the public.

 Information on PCWA board meetings may be obtained through the Clerk to the Board at (530) 823-4850 or (800) 464-0030.