GILL — The Selectboard had hoped that Karl Meyer’s appeal of FirstLight Hydro Generating Co.’s plan to restructure would provide an opportunity to voice concerns and learn more about the power company’s intentions.
But now that the Federal Energy Regulatory Commission (the group that licenses FirstLight, commonly called FERC), has rejected Meyer’s appeal on procedural grounds, Selectboard members wonder when they might get to ask their questions, if at all.
The larger context is: FirstLight is in the process of renewing its 50-year license with FERC. The company has requested that the new licensing terms allow it to change its corporate structure: the Northfield Mountain facility would be one company, the two hydro-electric dams in Turners Falls would be another, and these two companies would be owned by a single parent company.
Gill Selectboard members have said they are not necessarily concerned about the company’s plan, but that they don’t know enough to feel totally comfortable with it. Specifically, they have wondered whether the two smaller companies would be just as liable for river maintenance as the one large one is now, and whether the town’s tax base might be affected.
In July, FERC approved FirstLight’s request to restructure. Gill did not attempt to legally appeal it. But another stakeholder did: Meyer, who is on FERC’s fish and aquatics study team for the relicensing of the Northfield facility.
In his letter, Meyer alleged that FirstLight had improperly dealt with the river’s shortnosed sturgeon, an endangered species, and argued that this should disqualify the company’s request.
In November, FERC answered that it had rejected the appeal, not on the basis of Meyer’s arguments, but that his letter had been improperly formatted.
For Gill town officials, who had hoped that Meyer’s appeal would be an opportunity to get the information they want, this news was unwelcome.
“I think the big takeaway from what Mr. Meyer went through is just how procedure-driven this is. It isn’t some informal process,” said Gill Town Administrator Ray Purington. “For FERC to shoot down a request on the basis that the request didn’t have the right kind of bullet points, essentially …”
Selectboard Chair John Ward cut in: “Basically, it was that he didn’t have a heading in front of everything he brought up.”
“Are we in high school English?” said Selectboard member Randy Crochier.
“Yeah,” Ward replied.
Reach Max Marcus at mmarcus@recorder.com or 413-772-0261, ext. 261.