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By ERIN-LEIGH HOFFMAN

TURNERS FALLS — Toting buckets and nets, roughly 30 volunteers made the trek down into the muddy pit that is the drained power canal to rescue sea lampreys on Monday. This yearly rescue, conducted when the power canal is drained for yearly...

By ERIN-LEIGH HOFFMAN

TURNERS FALLS — Despite an anticipated multi-day dam repair that prompted an emergency drawdown of the Connecticut River, FirstLight Hydro Generating Co. confirmed Wednesday that the repairs were completed ahead of schedule.

By ERIN-LEIGH HOFFMAN

MONTAGUE — After three years of disputes over the assessed value of FirstLight Hydro Generating Co.’s property in town, a 10-year payment in lieu of taxes (PILOT) agreement is now in effect.

By ERIN-LEIGH HOFFMAN

TURNERS FALLS — To repair one of the bascule gates at the Turners Falls dam that caused 445 gallons of hydraulic fluid to spill into the Connecticut River last month, FirstLight Hydro Generating Co. will be lowering water levels upstream of the dam during the week of July 7.

By ERIN-LEIGH HOFFMAN

In response to the state Department of Environmental Protection’s decision to give FirstLight Hydro Generating Co. a water quality certification for its operations in Turners Falls and Northfield, two environmental advocacy nonprofits have joined others in the Pioneer Valley in filing an appeal with MassDEP’s Office of Appeals and Dispute Resolution.

By ANTHONY CAMMALLERI

TURNERS FALLS — An equipment malfunction caused FirstLight Hydro Generating Co.’s Turners Falls dam to leak roughly 300 gallons of hydraulic fluid into the Connecticut River this week, marking the facility’s fourth such incident since 2021.

By ERIN-LEIGH HOFFMAN

TURNERS FALLS — While opponents continue to assert the “overwhelming negative environmental impact” of FirstLight Hydro Generating Co.’s facilities, the state Department of Environmental Protection argues the conditions set through its water quality certification offer “more protections for the Connecticut River than ever before.”

By ERIN-LEIGH HOFFMAN

Applications for grants of up to $5,000 to support sustainability and community-building projects are being accepted through FirstLight Hydro Generating Co.’s FirstLight Sustains program, with a deadline of April 4.

By ERIN-LEIGH HOFFMAN

GREENFIELD — State and local officials joined members of the public in expressing concern for river quality and habitat for wildlife, among other considerations, during a hearing Wednesday on a draft decision approving a water quality certification for FirstLight Hydro Generating Co.

By ERIN-LEIGH HOFFMAN

GILL — Erosion was the Conservation Commission’s chief concern during a discussion Tuesday regarding the state Department of Environmental Protection’s draft decision approving a water quality certification for FirstLight Hydro Generating Co.

By ERIN-LEIGH HOFFMAN

TURNERS FALLS — The Massachusetts Department of Environmental Protection (MassDEP) has issued a draft decision approving a water quality certification for FirstLight Hydro Generating Co., marking the latest required step in FirstLight’s relicensing process through the Federal Energy Regulatory Commission (FERC).

TURNERS FALLS — Several weeks after the power canal was drawn down, FirstLight Hydro Generating Co. has refilled the canal.The power canal was initially scheduled to start refilling with water on Sept. 28 following FirstLight’s annual maintenance. The...

TURNERS FALLS — The Fifth Street Bridge over the canal, also known as the Green Bridge, will remain closed until Friday, Oct. 25, as maintenance work being conducted by the state Department of Transportation (MassDOT) continues.According to a post on...

By ERIN-LEIGH HOFFMAN

TURNERS FALLS — Residents carrying signs and posters at an information session regarding FirstLight Hydro Generating Co.’s application for a water quality certification from the state Department of Environmental Protection shared their concerns about...

TURNERS FALLS — The Massachusetts Department of Environmental Protection (MassDEP) will hold a public information and input session regarding FirstLight Hydro Generating Co.’s application for a water quality certification from MassDEP.The...

With Tropical Storm Debby expected to make its way north, bringing heavy rainfall throughout western Massachusetts, FirstLight Hydro Generating Co. is warning those who live near the Connecticut River of potential flooding.“FirstLight urges vigilance...

By CHRIS LARABEE

TURNERS FALLS — Willis McCumber was below the Turners Falls dam last week seeking dinosaur tracks when he came across something akin to a living dinosaur: an endangered shortnose sturgeon.“It’s a funny story, I was in the middle of making a YouTube...

By ANTHONY CAMMALLERI

TURNERS FALLS — The Federal Energy Regulatory Commission (FERC) intends to prepare an Environmental Impact Statement for FirstLight Hydro Generating Co.’s operations along the Connecticut River amid concerns that the dams might have a negative impact...

By ANTHONY CAMMALLERI

TURNERS FALLS — As FirstLight Hydro Generating Co. advances its decade-long license renewal to continue operating its facilities on the Connecticut River, municipal officials and residents voiced concerns over its potential environmental impacts to...

By ANTHONY CAMMALLERI

TURNERS FALLS — Area lawmakers are asking the Federal Energy Regulatory Commission (FERC) to limit the relicensing of FirstLight’s hydropower projects from 50 years to 30 years, and to mandate the company disclose more data to the public about its...

By JULIAN MENDOZA

A local group of bike-riding activists will ride together again for the first time in a decade, this time in protest of FirstLight Hydro Generating Co.’s Northfield Mountain Pumped Storage Station.The Solar Rollers, a grassroots advocacy group that...