Local farms weigh in on relicensing hydropower facilities and dams on the Connecticut River

HADLEY, Mass. (WWLP) – The local farmers in Massachusetts have joined forces to urge the relicensing of the Wilder, Bellows Falls, Vernon, and Turners Falls hydroelectric dams and the Northfield Mountain Pump Storage facility on the Connecticut River.

The licenses for these facilities will span the next few decades and could significantly impact the river and surrounding areas. “It would be nice if they let some water out ahead of heavy rain events because then there would be more capacity for the rain that falls to travel through the river rather than to try and go into the full reservoirs,” said the owner of Joe Czajkowski Farms in Hadley, Joe Czajkowski.

To support the relicensing, the farmers sent a petition with 63 signatures and met with state representatives, Joe Comerford and Natalie Blais to protect their properties. “It makes a lot of difference, last year we had a lot of flooding in the valley and there was a lot of damage,” Czajkowski said.

According to Czajkowski, about $30 million worth of crops were lost in the Pioneer Valley last year, most of which were along the Connecticut River.

The Connecticut River Conservancy (CRC), an organization dedicated to protecting the health of the river and the communities it serves, has been actively involved in this relicensing process for over a decade. Through their efforts, the CRC has been a strong advocate for the river’s well-being during the relicensing process.

To mitigate the impacts of the dams on recreation, fish and wildlife habitat, migratory and endangered species, water quality, and other resources, the Federal Energy Regulatory Commission (FERC) requires hydropower operators to provide direct benefits to the public and maintain the ecological health of the river.

“They generate a lot of electricity, which is also a good thing, clean energy, but I think both things can work together, they’ll get their water back in a day or two,” expressed Czajkowski.

A notice issued by FERC on February 22nd indicated that the final license applications had been accepted as complete and ready for environmental analysis. In conjunction with this notice, 60 days was initiated for the submission of comments and interventions.

How to submit a comment to FERC

A comment period will be open until May 22nd. If you have concerns about how these dams may affect the river, the surrounding communities, or your ability to interact with it, you can submit a comment to FERC. Any individual or entity with an interest may submit a public comment.

Among these are individual community members, Town committees or commissions, the Regional Planning Commission, recreation clubs, etc. The CRC staff have been meeting with local town committees to provide them with updates on the relicensing process and to encourage them to provide comments.

The purpose of a comment is to convey to FERC local concerns, recommendations, and desires. FERC will need to consider the information from these comments as they prepare the license conditions for the next 40 years.

Moreover, Connecticut River Conservancy will be filing a motion to intervene in addition to supporting the public’s right to comment. In this way, the intervenor becomes a legal party to the proceedings, which allows them to request hearings and appeal FERC orders.

There is then another step in the process where it will then go to MassDEP and go through a review. “So this is the one opportunity for people to make their comments and I think it does matter because it is going to take a long time to get a chance to say something again,” said Czajkowski.

The FERC last issued licenses for these facilities over forty years ago, and all five expired in April 2018.

Local News

Wilbraham Senior Center holds grand opening

Northampton Rotary Club partners with Dept. of Public Works to plant trees throughout the city

Hundreds partake in annual Dash & Dine 5K at UMass

U.S. Army Band tour stops at Springfield Symphony Hall

Kayleigh Thomas is a digital reporter who has been a part of the 22News team since 2022. Follow Kayleigh on X @kayleighcthomas and view her bio to see more of her work.

For the latest news, weather, sports, and streaming video, head to WWLP.