GREENFIELD, MA (FRANKLIN COUNTY NOW) — The final FirstLight water certification public hearing was held last night at Greenfield Community College where community members, state and local officials came to give comment on the draft water certification issued by the Massachusetts Department of Environmental Protection.
FirstLight is seeking the relicensing the Connecticut River hydroelectric facilities in Turners Falls and Montague and the pumped storage facility in Northfield for the next fifty years and the water certification process is just part of the relicensing, which is overseen by the Federal Energy Regulatory Commission (FERC).
Senator Jo Comerford, members of the Nolumbeka project, the Connecticut River Conservancy, Connecticut River Defenders all called on the DEP to do more in protecting the Connnecticut River from the impacts of the dams and hydropower pumps.
Written comments are being accepteduntil 5:00 p.m. on February 24, 2025. The Department encourages electronic submission of comments by email to dep.hydro@mass.gov which must include “FirstLight 401 WQC” in the subject line. In lieu of electronic submittal, paper comments may be mailed to:
Elizabeth Stefanik
Attn: FirstLight 401WQC, MassDEP-BWR
100 Cambridge Street, Suite 900
Boston, MA 02114.