Sale of Kennebec River dams clears 1 hurdle, faces another

CENTRAL MAINE • July 22, 2026

The Federal Energy Regulatory Commission has agreed to put a pause on relicensing the Shawmut dam and the license amendment process for the Weston, Hydro-Kennebec and Lockwood dams while FERC continues to consider a request from Brookfield Renewable to transfer the licenses for the Weston, Shawmut and Lockwood hydroelectric stations to newly created holding companies. The entities were created to facilitate their transfer to The Nature Conservancy, which in turn plans to give ownership of the dams to a new nonprofit, the Kennebec River Restoration Trust. The paper mill says it relies on the Shawmut impoundment. The Nature Conservancy has said it is “100% committed” to developing a solution for Sappi’s operations.