PEPPERELL

Revival planned for power plant

By Susan Ware, Globe Correspondent, 2/26/2004

The Pepperell hydroelectric power plant visible from Route 113 has been sold to a private company that plans to refurbish the 90-year-old plant and sell the electricity generated there. Peter Clark, an owner of Swift River Hydro Operations Company, based in Hamilton and Wilbraham, finalized plans with the Pepperell Planning Board on Monday night to separate the hydroelectric plant from the now-defunct Pepperell Paper Co., which is owned by Perry Verdix, Inc. of New Jersey.

Clark said Swift River has begun working on the site and plans to close the sale within the month. He declined to say how much he paid for the plant, but would say that Swift River would invest between $600,000 and $800,000 for equipment in addition to the purchase price.

Along with the hydroelectric plant comes the Nashua River dam, located at the Route 113 bridge. Until now, Perry Verdix has been maintaining the dam, and the future of the dam had concerned local officials. "One of the most important things to the town about this sale is that it prevents the town from being in the dam-owning business. We did not want to maintain the dam in the event that it was abandoned by whoever takes over the property," said Town Administrator Bob Hanson.

A hydroelectric plant consists of a dam, a powerhouse that contains the generators, various controls, and a waterway. Water is released from the dam to rotate turbines, which drive generators, producing electricity. Canada ranks first worldwide for the use of hydroelectric power, followed by the United States and Brazil, according to the 2003 International Journal on Hydropower and Dams.

Swift River Hydro Operations has refurbished 20 renewable energy projects throughout the state and has four in the works. Formed in 1981 to develop renewable energy projects, with a focus on hydroelectric energy, the company is one of the many energy related enterprises Clark has founded.

Clark is an economist with international experience as a natural resource manager and energy project developer. In 1974, Clark headed the Center for Energy Policy in Boston, a nonprofit company formed to plan regional energy strategies. He holds a doctorate in philosophy from MIT. "During the energy crisis of the 1970s, we were looking for a better way to supply energy locally, and water is one resource New England has a lot of," said Clark.

Clark that when fully refurbished, the hydroelectric plant will produce a maximum of 2 megawatts of power per hour. Some of that power will continue to power the neighboring mill, which is idle but still draws a small amount for security and lights. If the mill is sold to a developer, Clark hopes to be able to provide power for whatever the mill becomes. The balance of the power will be sold.

Now that the plan to separate the hydroelectric plant from the mill buildings has been approved, Clark is moving forward with refurbishing the powerhouse. The three turbines, built in 1916, will be replaced and a trash rake will be installed near the dam to prevent debris, such as logs, from damaging the new turbines. Although a generator has already been delivered to the site, the balance of the equipment may take 6 to 8 months to manufacture, said Clark. The dam is in good shape, he added, saying that only cosmetic work needs to be done.

"Hydroelectricity is a renewable, nonpolluting, highly efficient energy source, and the Pepperell plant is a great opportunity. We are very excited about it," said Clark. The refurbishment will begin within the next few weeks and it will be up to eight months before the plant is working at capacity.

Susan Ware can be reached at ware@globe.com.