FERC Extends Comment Period for Turners Falls Hydroelectric and Northfield Mountain Pumped Storage Projects

Strategic Insights -

The Federal Energy Regulatory Commission (FERC) has issued a formal notice extending the comment period for the draft Environmental Impact Statement (EIS) for the Turners Falls Hydroelectric and Northfield Mountain Pumped Storage Projects. The original deadline was July 29, 2025, but due to the breadth and scope of the environmental issues analyzed in the EIS, stakeholders have requested and been granted a 30-day extension. Comments should now be filed on or before August 28, 2025.

Key Takeaways:

  • The FERC has extended the comment period for the draft EIS by 30 days, from July 29, 2025, to August 28, 2025.
  • The extension was granted due to the demands on stakeholder resources created by a second draft EIS issued by Commission staff on the same day for three projects upstream of the Turners Falls and Northfield Mountain projects.
  • Stakeholders requested the extension to ensure that their comments are sufficiently detailed and thorough enough to inform the Commission's licensing decision.
  • The extension is deemed reasonable and will not substantially affect Commission staff's schedule for processing the license applications.
  • Comments should be filed electronically to the Commission at stephen.kartalia@ferc.gov or by mail to Secretary, Federal Energy Regulatory Commission, 888 First Street NE, Washington, DC 20426.
  • Interested individuals can contact Steve Kartalia by telephone at (202) 502-6131 or by email at stephen.kartalia@ferc.gov for further information.

Statistics:

  • 30-day extension of the comment period for the draft EIS
  • July 29, 2025, original deadline for comments
  • August 28, 2025, new deadline for comments
  • Two projects subject to the extension: Turners Falls Hydroelectric Project No. 1889 and Northfield Mountain Pumped Storage Project No. 2485
  • Three projects upstream of Turners Falls and Northfield Mountain with a second draft EIS issued by Commission staff on the same day

Sources:

  • Federal Energy Regulatory Commission. (2025, July 10). UNITED STATES OF AMERICA FEDERAL ENERGY REGULATORY COMMISSION FirstLight MA Hydro LLC Project No. 1889-085 Northfield Mountain LLC Project No. 2485 NOTICE OF EXTENSION OF TIME TO FILE COMMENTS ON THE DRAFT ENVIRONMENTAL IMPACT STATEMENT FOR THE TURNERS FALLS HYDROELECTRIC AND NORTHFIELD MOUNTAIN PUMPED STORAGE PROJECTS.