What People Are Saying: Public Comments for Hydropower Relicensing on the Connecticut River

Vernon Dam in VT/NH. Photo by Al Braden.

5 hydroelectric facilities on the Connecticut River are up for relicensing, and the public comment period is currently OPEN until May 22nd (after being extended from the previous April 22nd deadline). We have a once-in-a-lifetime opportunity to speak up for our rivers and influence licenses that will last for up for 50 years! 

If you’re new to the issue and looking for background information on the hydropower facilities, what’s at stake, or how Connecticut River Conservancy has focused our advocacy throughout this 12-year process, you can find all the details here.  

The Public Comments are Coming In 

Since the public comment period with FERC (the Federal Energy Regulatory Commission) opened on February 22nd, the comments have been pouring in from individual community members, towns, recreation clubs, and many different types of stakeholders who care about the Connecticut River. We're thrilled to witness an outpouring of engagement from individuals like you who are stepping up to protect our rivers. 

Here's What Some of You Are Saying: 

• Lisa McLoughlin of Northfield MA 

• O. Ross McIntyre of Lyme NH 

• James Goedkoop of Wilder VT 

• Sharon McDonald of Amherst MA 

• Monica Jane Winters of New Salem MA 

• Mike and Miriam Kurland of Williamsburg MA 

• Thomas Collins of Chester VT

• The Town of Norwich VT

• Martha Bartlett of Wilder VT

• Steven Stocking of Fairlee VT

• Delegation of Western Mass State Reps

There have been over 100 comments so far, and more are coming in every day. Comments range from being extremely short and to-the-point about issues or concerns, to being several pages long and full of scientific citations. Both are ok and valuable for FERC in this process. The more comments are submitted, the more we can ensure that all voices and perspectives are represented! 

To Read All Public Comments: 

All comments are open to the public. If you’d like to read all comments, or read comments based on the facility you are most interested in, here are the steps to access them on the FERC website. 

• Go to the FERC website here 

• Enter the docket number for the comments you’d like to see: 

• Wilder Dam, P-1892-030   

• Bellows Falls Dam, P-1855-050  

• Vernon Dam, P-1904-078  

• Northfield Mountain Pumped Storage Project, P-2485-071  

• Turners Falls Dam, P-1889-085 

• Customize the date range or leave it as “all” since comment results will have the most recent comments at the top. 
  

This will bring you to a page full of comments. We hope they help show many examples for inspiration on your own comment submission! 

Next Steps: Writing Your Comments 

We want to extend a heartfelt thank you to everyone who has taken the time to submit their comments and speak up for our rivers. Your dedication and passion are inspiring and remind us of the collective power we hold to effect positive change. 

If you haven't yet added your voice to the conversation, there's still time! The public comment period remains open until May 22nd. Here’s what you can do: 

• Review CRC’s hydropower details here 

• See our FERC Comment Guide

• Reach out to our River Stewards for any questions or support with submitting your comments.

  • Kathy Urffer: River Steward, VT 802-258-0413 | kurffer@ctriver.org  

  • Nina Gordon-Kirsch: River Steward, MA 413-834-9777 ngordonkirsch@ctriver.org 

  • Kate Buckman: River Steward, NH 603-931-2448 kbuckman@ctriver.org 

Thank you for being a champion of our rivers!