Hydropower supplied energy to most of Massachusetts’s industry well into the early 1900’s, a major reason why most Massachusetts towns are located along rivers.  A romantic notion during this time of unprecedented oil pollution is to refurbish our region’s “initial power grid”.  Utilizing existing dams in the Housatonic Watershed will yield cost effective reductions in Green House Gas emissions and generate over one hundred million dollars of revenue to local municipalities over the life of the project. To access this common wealth for our community requires a new approach.

For the past year, Berkshire Co-Act: Community Organizing for Action, a local grassroots group, has been pioneering a new strategy that will make low impact hydro a reality for our region.  In November of 2009, focusing on Southern and Central Berkshire County, Co-Act facilitated the first hydroelectric symposium of its kind in the country. This meeting of environmental, regulatory, engineering, and funding professionals, along with owners and managers of facilities, made for an informative exchange.  By the conclusion of the panel discussion the group had identified a cost effective, efficient approach to put dams in our region back “online” and generate hydroelectric power.

Co-Act first applied their collaborative strategy by conducting a preliminary assessment of eleven low impact hydro projects in the Housatonic Basin of Berkshire County.  Since that first inquiry, another eight dams in Pioneer Valley are being investigated.  In all, these nineteen dams are capable of generating $1.6 million yearly in returns.  Presently, this resource is being wasted, as it is for most of the dams in the region.

Revitalization of existing dams and tapping appropriate run of the river sites requires a process of collaboration and due diligence. Our team includes Essex Partnership, an engineering firm specializing in low impact hydro. Licensing and approval for small hydroelectric plants typically costs several hundred thousand dollars and takes four years or more.  Co-Act’s new approach can cut the time required to less than two years and greatly reduce costs. Our goal is a 50% reduction in time and pre-installation costs, compared to existing standards. This makes small hydro power feasible throughout Massachusetts while opening up the model for a clean energy economy throughout the United States.

The development model can be applied state wide. Part of this process involves the stakeholders identifying criteria for dam selection and “smart development”. For example, the criteria we gathered from our meetings for the Housatonic include: minimal water diversion, structural integrity, potential improvements to the fish and wildlife habitat, and recreational use development.

The advantages of using this approach add up. Compared to photovoltaic panels that last for twenty years, hydro generators are built to last for one hundred years. This process allows access to dam “barriers” on a stretch of river to improved portage, recreational use, and safety. It also provides the benefit of an improved power transmission from distributed generation which will support the power grid at many points.

The process we utilize also results in channeling the generated proceeds back into the municipalities in which the dams are located. Revitalizing appropriate, established hydroelectric facilities will provide energy and income for generations to come. This is a form of economic development for underserved communities while increasing our energy independence.

Co-Act is seeking partnership with the Commonwealth of Massachusetts. State and local officials are needed to support this watershed development for municipal power generation as it involves contiguous municipalities. State representatives can provide important insights and valuable networking to make this project a reality as Senator Ben Downing is currently doing with our team.

Small, low impact hydroelectric can once again be a feasible, attractive, and reliable source of renewable energy. Now is the time to reclaim our region’s original power grid for the common good of Berkshires residents.  Please mention your support for this Co-Act project to your town and state representatives.

Notes from the Hydroelectric Symposium

Co-Act is exploring eleven dams in Central and Southern Berkshire County for  producting electricity and have those proceeds go to the municipalities, while improving the environment and recreational use. Thank you to the 48 attendees of the November, 2009 symposium, the first of its kind in our region. This meeting of environmental, regulatory, engineering, and funding professionals along with owners and managers of facilities made for an informative exchange.

At the conclusion of the panel discussion we identified a way to get the original power grid for our region back on line at no cost to the owners. The implication for energy production would be significant. Revitalizing a hydroelectric facility can be an ongoing energy and financial source to our community, for generations to come. For example, from our preliminary assessment, Rising (Hazen) Paper Dam on the Housatonic could produce up to $500,000 in benefits per year. Presently, this energy is being wasted, as it is for most of the dams in our region.

The process to get our regional dams and conduits on line at significantly lower costs to owners and accelerated time frame is outlined below.

Dams:

1.  Collaboration

The approach begins with collaboration. This means working jointly with dam owners, environmentalists, and engineers in the Housatonic Basin in Central and Southern Berkshire County. The symposium on November 6 was a good start.

2.  Profiling

An initial scan of 48 dams revealed potential ongoing generation of 180,000 KW. Of these, twenty facilities deserve further investigation. See notes from symposium for data.

3.  Screening

The next step is to screen the dams from Step 2. This will consist of a more detailed analysis of each dam using data provided by dam managers. This will be part of the application for a grant to fund a feasibility study. Up to 12 dams would be included in the feasibility phase. The template developed for this screening is attached; your participation in the next steps requires this information.

4.  Feasibility Study

This step involves an environmental analysis with the key players from the state including Caleb Slater and Robert Kubit. These sites will be assessed for recreational use, such as portage. Each site will go through a dam safety inspection and evaluation. An engineering analysis will be done to configure the generating project and develop estimates for costs and energy output.  If the resulting project is truly low impact, meets dam safety requirements, and produces sufficient benefits – building it would create a valuable asset for future generations.

5.  Funding

With this asset identified, funding is possible through a variety of means such as banks, grants, and community bonds.

6.  Permitting

The FERC application process will begin while other phases are underway.  The up front due diligence will help eliminate dams from consideration that would be difficult to license – speeding up the approval process. Working closely with environmental and recreational use experts will further accelerate permit approvals.

7.  Installation

Equipment will be purchased and installed.

8.  Maintenance

The project outcome will produce a steady flow of income and renewable energy to the community – while helping to sustain the environment. The life of a generator is approximately 100 years.

Conduits:

The same process outlined above would apply to twelve conduit projects in our region. The model presented by Bruce Collingwood for the City of Pittsfield demonstrates their conduit project at a municipal water distribution facility. Â The $100,000 incremental costs to purchase and install equipment would quickly be reimbursed by revenues and savings of $50,000 per year.

Using a similar approach as the dams, the process would identify the conduit as an asset. This provides a means for further funding; the cost to the owners should be zero. If you have a facility with sufficient flow and head height, please use the attached form to apply.

Next Steps:

Attached are notes from the symposium along with a form to help with Step 3. The information from the symposium is provided on a power point. Please use it to help educate others of the potential that exists through collaboration and being responsible stewards of our Common Wealth. Thanks to Essex Engineering, Co-Act, the Berkshire Regional Planning Commission, and the town of West Stockbridge for providing the attached material.

We look forward to collaborating with you on accessing our common wealth to benefit our local communities.

If you have any questions, please contact me.

Paul Deslauriers, Co-Act Director, at (413) 232-7888 or paul@co-act.org.