EAST LANSING, Mich. – Without approval of the sale of 13 dams from Consumers Energy to Confluence Hydro, communities across the state face devastating consequences.
That’s what several Michigan residents told members of the Michigan Public Service Commission (MPSC) at the panel’s meeting on Thursday.
“If you do not move forward and get this contract signed, Consumers may decide to remove the dams and the economic ramifications and natural devastation would be huge,” said Karen Reese, a resident who lives near Croton Pond in Newago County.
“The sobering effects on the thousands of people living on and around these dams would be horrific,” Reese said. “Many families have built their lives on these backwaters for over a hundred years. They would lose huge values on their homes and businesses would lose revenue and may have to close their doors.”
Reese is among dozens of Michiganders who have encouraged the MPCS to approve the sale, which was announced last year. It has been the subject of a dozen community meetings across the state that featured members of the Confluence Hydro team to highlight their plans to safely manage the dams.
Quotes from other supporters of the sale include:
Alec Chesley lives near Croton Dam and has operated businesses nearby for decades.
“If these dams were removed and the reservoirs drained, the impact would be devastating,” he said. “Campgrounds and marinas could close. Businesses like the ones I previously owned would struggle to survive. Property values would suffer, and our entire community would be permanently changed.”
Andy Fias, a Croton Township trustee who lives near the Croton Dam in Newaygo County, spoke from a campground near his house that could close if the sale does not go through.
“Without the MPSC’s approval of this sale, that could mean removal of the dams and devastation for our property values and local wealth,” Fias said.
Consumers Energy has said it plans to begin a phased decommissioning of the dams if the sale is not approved, starting with Hardy, Rogers, Alcona and Hodenpyl dams. If the dams are removed, treasured recreational opportunities could vanish and property values could plummet.
A May survey of 600 Michigan voters by GQR, a leading polling firm based in Washington, D.C., found that 63% of Michigan voters support the dam sale. That support rises to 67% among voters living in counties with a dam.
The survey, conducted May 23-28, also found that respondents deeply value the preservation of the state’s river dams, with nearly 60% of those who responded to the survey saying they have a favorable view of the dams. Respondents also showed strong support for hydroelectric energy with 77% saying it is their preferred energy source, outpacing support for natural gas, solar, coal and wind.
Andy Fias, Croton Township trustee, speaking to the Michigan Public Service Commission from a campground Thursday. The campground could be forced to close if the sale of 13 dams from Consumers Energy to Confluence Hydro is not approved.