The village of Potsdam will purchase electricity for its municipal buildings from a nearby hydroelectric source. During its monthly meeting Monday evening, the village Board of Trustees voted unanimously to enter into a contract with Northern Power & Light of Saranac Lake to provide power to the municipality through hydroelectric credits.
Northern Power & Light partners with many small hydro utilities throughout the region to distribute power supplies to local businesses and residents, usually offering competitive rates similar to National Grid.
In addition, the company is expanding its municipal rebate program.
Northern Power & Light’s partners include Sissonville Hydro, owned by Boralex Hydro Operations Inc. of Glens Falls. It owns a dam on the Raquette River, just below the village. It can provide power to about 1,000 homes.
A dam has been on the site since the 1890s, when it was part of the Raquette River Paper Company. The original 19th-century mill harnessed the power of the river to power a log grinding machine that turned logs into paper pulp. The current water dam was built in 1989, the Boralex website says.
Northern Power also operates its own power facility, Azure Mountain Power (AMP), in St. Louis. Regis Falls, and partners with The Schroon River Dam and Powerhouse in Warrensburg.
The company was founded in 2018 by brothers Emmett and Ethan Smith and Louise Jaffa.
Recently, the company finalized a similar agreement with the city of Potsdam to supply electricity to the municipality. Northern Power & Light has also established similar municipal agreements with Glens Falls and Saranac Lake.
In a joint effort, the village will collaborate with the city through the Potsdam Climate Smart Communities Task Force to initiate a community information program regarding the availability of sustainable local water resources.
The resolution approved by the village board states that the agreement may grant access to up to $15,000 in funding for climate-smart community initiatives.
Visit wdt.me/VMD8dD to read more about Northern Power and Light and its local hydropower operations.
(Tags for translation) Sh. Lawrence
