Green River Reservoir loons. Photos courtesy ANR.
State Urged to Assume Ownership; Small Community’s 4,000 Ratepayers Should Not Bear the Burden
Vermont Business Magazine The State of Vermont has released the Green River Reservoir Dam and Dike Study, led by the Department of Environmental Conservation (DEC) with technical support from GEI Consultants, Harvey Economics, and Hydro Consulting & Maintenance Services. The report confirms the Green River Reservoir Dam is structurally sound, that costs to responsibly maintain it are known and reasonable, and that the reservoir remains a cornerstone of Vermont’s outdoor recreation economy.
Current owner Morrisville Water and Light is urging the state to take over ownership of the facility. The utility has been at odds with various environmental groups over water quality and safety of the hydro facility for several years.
The US Court of Appeals for the DC Circuit last May rejected the hydropower dam company Morrisville Water & Light’s challenge in which they argued that the Agency of Natural Resources violated a provision of the federal Clean Water Act in their relicensing of the Lamoille River Basin Project.
The Vermont Natural Resources Council, for one, wants the utility to follow the law and run their hydroelectric dams, in this case the one at Green River reservoir, as directed in order to protect the waterways. MW&L maintains they simply cannot afford to do so while also operating the hydro station.
Key Study Findings
- Safety Confirmed: Analyses show the dam and foundation meet modern stability criteria with no critical deficiencies identified. The report found, “The dam performs well with respect to modern dam safety and engineering standards.”
- Costs as Expected: The study outlines clear, reasonable capital and maintenance needs to keep the dam in safe, compliant operation; there are no surprise or prohibitive cost drivers. Specifically, the initial investment required to maintain the dam and generate power range from $2m to $6.8m with annual maintenance thereafter ranging from $85,000 to $185,000.
- Clean Energy Resource: While the facility has long generated renewable power, state licensing conditions have effectively regulated it out of the market - despite its continued ability to produce clean energy.
- Economic Engine: Green River Reservoir State Park sustains tens of thousands of visits each season, catalyzing local spending and statewide tax revenue that far exceed stewardship costs. Specifically, the report found that, “Economic activity generated from visitor spending in the local economy associated with State Park visits exceeds the total cost of all alternatives except dam removal with visitor spending ranging from $22.7m to 32.7m over a 20-year period.”
The Green River Reservoir is integral to a beloved state park and a regional outdoor economy, yet it is currently owned by a small municipal utility with no viable path to recover costs under the state’s water quality conditions. The 4,000 MW&L ratepayers should not be left carrying the responsibility or expense for an asset that serves the entire state, the utility stated in wake of the study. State ownership would protect the dam, reservoir, and downstream communities; secure clean energy potential; and ensure the recreation economy continues to thrive, MW&L stated.
The remote campsites can only be reached by boat
“This study validates what our engineers see on the ground: the Green River Dam is safe and performing as designed. The findings are clear and give the state of Vermont a responsible path forward,” said Scott Johnstone, General Manager of Morrisville Water and Light. “With safety confirmed, costs defined, and benefits undeniable, Vermont should assume ownership of the Green River Reservoir Dam and Dike to safeguard this statewide resource for generations to come. We stand ready to work with the Administration and the Legislature on an orderly transfer that protects the reservoir, preserves public access, and provides long-term certainty for the community and the State Park.”
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