HYDE PARK, Vt. (WCAX) – A Vermont utility’s plan to ditch an unprofitable hydro dam puts the future of one of Vermont’s most scenic natural resources in doubt.
Morrisville Water and Light wants the state to take over the dam on the Green River Reservoir, but so far the state is not leaping at the chance.
The utility says its operating at a loss and adhering to a federal permit would cost ratepayers millions.
Spring is here and soon people will begin visiting the Green River Reservoir in Hyde Park, a pristine natural resource and popular state park.
The man-made reservoir was created by an 80-year-old hydroelectric dam owned by Morrisville Water and Light. But they have a problem. They say new regulations restricting how much water they can release through the dam makes operating it financially untenable.
“At some point we have to start worrying about who’s paying the bills,” said Scott Johnstone, the general manager of Morrisville Water and Light.
Monday, the utility announced it wants to give up its license to generate power and have the state take over the operation of the dam.
“Reasonable people will get to the right decision. The right decision is that Vermont writ large should own this dam because that’s where the benefits are,” Johnstone said.
The Vermont Agency of Natural Resources declined an interview with WCAX News but said in a statement that Morrisville Water and Light’s announcement came as a surprise. “While we appreciate the value of the Green River and have every intention of maintaining Green River Reservoir State Park and access to this remarkable state land; we have not seen a transition plan from MWL.”
If nobody operates it, the other option would be to decommission and dismantle the dam. That would not only mean the end of a popular recreation spot, it would also eliminate a source of renewable energy and flood control in Lamoille County.
“Over the next year two years, cooler heads can prevail and we can sit down and talk about what’s right and what’s fair and who’s deriving value off of that dam when we are not generating power there,” Johnstone said.
State lawmakers commissioned a study which is underway now on what it would cost for the state to operate the dam. That’s due in the fall.
This is not something that’s going to happen immediately. Morrisville Water and Light has to apply to the federal government to ditch their permit and that will likely take years.