By JULIE CUNNINGHAM

(Franklin County, MA) Today Congressman Joe Kennedy made two stops in Franklin County as part of his Jobs & Justice campaign tour. In the morning, Kennedy stopped at Four Star Farms in Northfield and met the owners, Nathan L’Etoile Jene L’Etoile, to discuss issues surrounding their farm. Four Star Farms is a hops supplier that relies heavily on their irrigation system. Nathan and Jene said hops like hot dry sun and no moisture, so they need a good irrigation system to keep the hops hydrated. During the visit, they discussed some of their irrigation issues with Congressman Kennedy.

“We have had challenges over the last 30 years navigating some of the incongruity between the utilities permit and the legislative authorization from FERC,” said Nathan.

FERC is the Federal Energy Regulation Commission, which gave a license to First Light to use part of the Connecticut River, the same part that abuts Four Star Farms. Nathan explained that First Light has been sending cease and desist letters every few years to the farm to stop them from using the water ways. Nathan said all other required permits are in order, but Four Star Farms has not paid First Light for the use of the Connecticut River. Nathan said that FERC has given First Light exclusive use of the river, but there is an exception for agricultural use that exists in the deed to the land owned by Four Star Farms. Four Star Farms has the proper state and federal permits to use the land, said Jene.

At Berkshire East, Kennedy talked to Jon Schaefer about the wind turbines and solar panels that power the Berkshire East facility. Schaefer explained that they make power all year round, but they use far more power in the winter than in the summer. The wind turbine was put up in 2011 while the solar field was built in 2013. Schaefer also said that Berkshire East was the leader in ski community’s COVID-19 response by being the first ski mountain to shut down and the first to reopen when it was safe.

Kennedy said that he was struck by the incredible opportunity in Franklin County and at Berkshire East, but aware of the need for federal guidance and support as the country moves through COVID-19.

“There needs to be additional support from federal policy to strengthens those efforts,” said Kennedy.

As for another round of COVID-19 that could destroy the economy, Kennedy referenced the Heroes Act, that gives funding and aid to municipalities. Kennedy said that the bill will help to support schools and teachers, which have been hit hard by the economic crisis caused by COVID-19. Kennedy said businesses need help navigating road blocks at the federal level, to cushion the blow of the economic crisis.

“What you hear from businesses out here is they are doing everything they can,” said Kennedy.