BANGOR DAILY NEWS • December 17, 2020
Recently, Brookfield Renewables, the owner of the Ellsworth and Graham Lake dams, authored a column that has muddied the waters regarding their intentions to comply with state and federal water quality and fisheries regulations. Brookfield has decided its profits are at risk because its antiquated dams and highly problematic water management systems cannot be lawfully permitted under modern licensing requirements. Brookfield may think thousands of dead alewives, eels and mussels, and a dark, unnaturally muddy river is something that Mainers just have to tolerate, but we know they can do better. Brookfield can become a responsible voice in the Greater Ellsworth community if they decide that their financial bottom line involves truly meeting the needs of the public and the ecosystem. ~ Dwayne Shaw and Brett Ciccotelli, Downeast Salmon Federation