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Conference Announcement:

Hydropower in Connecticut and the Northeast

January 11, 2008

8:30 AM – 3:45 PM

Northeast Utilities, Berlin, Connecticut

Rainbow Dam on the Farmington River in Windsor

Conference Steering Committee Members:

Fred Ayer, Low-Impact Hydropower Institute

Russ Cohen, Massachusetts Riverways

Konstantine Drakonakis, Connecticut Innovations, Inc. - Connecticut Clean Energy Fund

Robert Gates, FirstLight Power

Eric Hammerling, Farmington River Watershed Association/Rivers Alliance

Dwight Merriam, Robinson & Cole/Rivers Alliance

Margaret Miner, Rivers Alliance

Earl Phillips, Robinson & Cole

Mark P. Smith, The Nature Conservancy

Venue Courtesy of NORTHEAST UTILITIES

In the context of climate change and the world-wide thrust to develop renewable energy sources, federal and state governments are developing laws and policies that provide incentives for renewable power, often including new and/or expanded hydropower.  Yet dams and hydropower have profound and often irreversible impacts to our rivers and streams.  Financial incentives can change market forces and promote the exploitation of resources so rapidly that radical changes in the environment can occur before we have time to evaluate the consequences of the policies.

This conference will examine the role of hydropower in the push for renewable energy sources as well as the implications of the incentives the state and the federal governments are considering for hydro development.  There will be a particular emphasis on small, new hydro and the recent proposals under consideration in Connecticut and Vermont.  Elements of the discussion will include: 

• The historical context, parallels with the hydro rush of the 1970s and 1980s
• Impact of new, small hydro on the ecology of rivers
• Alternatives such as increased efficiency, new technologies
• What constitutes green hydro, design vs. size

DRAFT Preliminary AGENDA

The conference will be organized into panels and one case study.   Panels will address four themes that will be introduced at the opening of the conference.  The four introductory speakers will moderate the panel discussions.  Speakers are not yet finally selected, but multiple, even conflicting interests will be represented.

Conference Leaders

Fred Ayer, Executive Director, Low-Impact Hydropower Institute

Robert Gates, Station Manager, FirstLight Power

Eric Hammerling, Executive Director, Farmington River Watershed Association;

President, Rivers Alliance

Earl Phillips, Esq., Robinson & Cole

Mark P. Smith, Director, Eastern U.S. Freshwater Program, The Nature Conservancy

Opening Panel: Four Perspectives on Hydropower Moderator: Eric Hammerling

Panelists: Fred Ayer, Robert Gates, Earl Phillips, Mark Smith

Panel: Is Hydropower Really Green?  Moderated by Fred Ayer

The Hydro Rushes of the 1970s and today.  What are the net gains and losses likely to be? 

Panel: The Technology of Clean Hydropower Moderated by Robert Gates

What are the best means of maximizing productivity of hydro with ecological protections?  Is there new technology that can do this better than the old?  How hydro can contribute to clean energy? 

Case Study: The Farmington River Moderated by Eric Hammerling

There used to be functioning hydropower facilities on the Farmington River.  Summit Hydro, LLC now has a relicensing application pending with FERC.  This project could become a shining example of new, efficient, green hydro, or it could be poorly implemented, or it could fail.  How do we get the best result?

Panel: Hydro Regulation Moderated by Earl Phillips

Dozens of federal, state, and local laws, regulations, and permitting authorities affect the development of new hydro and the extension of existing hydro.  Are they supporting good policies?  Interfering with good policies?  Implementing contradictory policies?  Blocking change altogether?

Panel: Emerging Policy, Changing Landscapes  Moderated by Mark P. Smith

What will our rivers look like in 15 years under current policies including financial incentives (as being implemented in Connecticut & Vermont)?

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