Monday March 17, 2025
News Center Maine —
Federal regulators issued guidance last month suggesting that four lower Kennebec River dams can continue operating if their owner makes slight modifications to allow endangered fish to pass through them.
The stipulations outlined by Federal Energy Regulatory Commission staff in a Feb. 28 report are far more lenient than what was proposed in requests from Maine environmental agencies, Wabanaki nations, and environmental advocates, who were hoping for significant passway expansions or the dams’ outright removal.
The report, called an environmental impact statement, is meant to help FERC’s five politically-appointed commissioners issue a final decision on owner Brookfield Renewables’ applications to renew one dam’s license and amend those of three others. If approved, then the final hurdle for Brookfield to operate the dams for decades to come is a water quality certification from the Maine Department of Environmental Protection.