PPL and partners in Penobscot River Restoration Project earn federal award

PPL and its partners in Maine’s Penobscot River Restoration Project have been honored by the U.S. government for their collaborative work to restore fish habitats while maintaining hydropower generation.

The U.S. Department of the Interior honored the project last week with its Cooperative Conservation Award, which recognizes groups and individuals who work together to achieve excellence in conservation.

PPL has agreed to sell three dams on the Penobscot to a coalition of government agencies, private groups and the Penobscot Indian Nation. The coalition plans to remove two dams and bypass a third to help restore fish runs for species such as the Atlantic salmon. The agreement, which requires federal government approval, also gives PPL the right to increase generation at its five remaining dams in Maine.

In a statement, the Department of the Interior called the project “one of the most ecologically significant and innovative river restoration efforts in the nation.”

“We are proud of the progress we have made working with our partners, and we appreciate the recognition,” said Dennis Murphy, vice president and chief operating officer-Eastern Fossil and Hydro for PPL Generation. “This is a project with significant benefits for all parties, including PPL, the Penobscot Indian Nation, conservation and sporting groups, and residents of the state of Maine.”

The award was one of 21 given by Secretary of the Interior Dirk Kempthorne to environmental partnerships across the country.