FirstLight wins sustainability award from Associated Industries of Massachusetts
FirstLight operates three power-generating facilities on the local stretch of the Connecticut River – two hydro-electric dams, one pictured, in Turners Falls and a pumping station in Northfield. Staff File Photo/PAUL FRANZ
Published: 12/17/2020 3:48:21 PM
The FirstLight power company has won an industry award for environmental sustainability. The award notes that FirstLight operates the largest clean energy portfolio in New England, including hydro-electric facilities in Montague and Northfield.
Associated Industries of Massachusetts, an organization that advocates on business-related public policy issues and provides human resource services, has been issuing its Sustainability Award every year since 2016. The organization describes the award as a recognition of environmental stewardship, promotion of social well-being and contributions to economic prosperity.
Montague to push for greater recreation investment from FirstLight
FirstLight Hydro Generating Co. manages several riverfront parks in Montague. Here paddlers navigate the Connecticut River during the fall. STAFF FILE PHOTO/PAUL FRANZ
FirstLight operates three power-generating facilities on the local stretch of the Connecticut River two hydro-electric dams in Turners Falls, one pictured, and a hydro-pump facility at Northfield Mountain. STAFF FILE PHOTO/PAUL FRANZ
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MONTAGUE In renewing its operational license for the next 50 years, the FirstLight Hydro Generating Co. has proposed some improvements to its recreational facilities in Montague, but not the amount of investment the town had sought.
My Turn: The selling of New England’s river STAFF PHOTO/MARY BYRNE STAFF PHOTO/MARY BYRNE
Modified: 12/11/2020 2:45:37 PM
On Nov. 12 FirstLight and broker Energy New England sent out a paid press release with a Twitter link on Businesswire: “21 New England Municipal Electric Utilities Commit to Historic Purchase of Clean Power From FirstLight Through ENE.” Formatted like news, it hyped agreements overwhelmingly to eastern Massachusetts towns, for future electricity exports. It boasted big complex numbers, long-term megawatts and clean, renewable hydropower sales to towns 100 miles from the source.
Factually, if all that hyped power was directed to the coastal town of Hingham (pop. circa 23,000) on that list, all 20 others, including tiny outliers in Vermont and Rhode Island, would be left in the dark.
Credit Great River Hydro
A final plan is out to relicense three major hydropower dams on the Connecticut River between New Hampshire and Vermont – a big milestone in a years-long federal process.
Portsmouth-based Great River Hydro is seeking new, 40-year licenses for its Wilder, Bellows Falls and Vernon dams, which together provide about 108 megawatts of power from the river between West Lebanon and the Massachusetts border.
The main, major change the company’s plan outlines is a new way of operating the dams to keep river levels from fluctuating as much as they have in the past.
“Proposed operation … focuses on creating more stable impoundment water surface elevations by reducing the average frequency, average duration, and average range of impoundment fluctuation,” the plan states.
Wilder Dam owner wants to change up water discharges to help environment
The Wilder Dam over the Connecticut River, seen from the air on Saturday, Dec. 9, 2017. (Valley News - Charles Hatcher) Copyright Valley News. May not be reprinted or used online without permission. Send requests to permission@vnews.com.
Modified: 12/9/2020 9:51:36 PM
WILDER The owner of the Wilder Dam is proposing to reduce the frequency and magnitude of how it discharges water to make electricity there and at two other hydroelectric facilities in southern Vermont, a move some stakeholders say could help endangered and threatened aquatic species and also reduce erosion.