Town Might Apply for State Grant for Hydro Project Licensing, Preliminary Design

The town may apply for a state grant to move closer to bringing hydropower back online in Collinsville.

The town could qualify for up to $500,000 under the Small Town Economic Assistance Program (STEAP), which the state Office of Policy and Management administers for capital projects.

The town has been researching the feasibility of bringing the upper and/or lower Collinsville dams back online and a Massachusetts firm has completed a grant-funded pre-feasibility study, which outlines several options. Town officials have said there are no “fatal flaws” to bringing the dams online.

One major step the town would need going forward is more permanent Federal Energy Regulatory Commission Licenses to operate the dams. The town currently has preliminary permits.

A year ago, the town was cautiously optimistic that Congressional action could pave the way and First Selectmen Richard Barlow even testified before the U.S. Senate.

However, Barlow said the getting the senate and U.S. House of Representatives together with a bill for the project has “gone from slim to probably none.”

Barlow said the Permanent Energy Committee recommended applying for the STEAP grant, likely to be awarded in the $200,000 to $250,000 range.

The town has until Aug. 1 but Chief Administrative Officer Robert Skinner told selectmen during their meeting this week that he wanted some direction before having town staff spend time on the application process.

Barlow said it could move the town through licensing and initial design.

Barlow said he still feels it’s a good time to move on the plan because of energy credit programs and a state virtual net metering law that now allows the town to apply energy generated at a facility to up to five building at retail rate.

 “If we’re going to do the project there are a lot of good economic drivers out there,” Barlow said. We need to get ourselves through the licensure process and into the design and facility sooner than later.”

He said the licensing process would likely be between $100,000 and $150,000.

Skinner said the grant would not pay for construction but hopefully bring the town to that point, should it want to move forward.

Barlow said it's not likely this year but there is a bill in the U.S. house that would exempt small hydro from FERC licenses. One “downside” would be that the generating facility be within 500 feet of dam, which would eliminate the lower dam from consideration. However, with the Avon and Burlington perhaps not committed to working together on the lower dam it may be time to focus on the upper, he said. 

Selectmen Steve Roberto did not object to the idea but said he wanted to make sure the town is keeping in mind Mills Pond Pool, which a recent study recommended be the site of major repairs and likely eventual replacement. 

“That has to be as well at the very top of our radar screen,” Roberto said. “I think we saw the report. If we want to have a town pool in this town, if it’s not this round, it needs to rise to the top at some point.”

Some funds are being spent at the pool this year and the Canton Lions Club has been a great help, Skinner said, adding that his thought is to perhaps apply for a STEAP grant for it next year.

“That should be in time enough to hopefully save the pool,” he said.