Conowingo Dam legal battle ends with $200M settlement for bay restoration

The Maryland Department of the Environment and Exelon Generation Company have ended a years-long legal battle over the environmental impacts of the Conowingo Dam.

Exelon, which operates the 90-year-old dam near the mouth of the Susquehanna River, will pay more than $200 million toward Chesapeake Bay restoration projects to settle a water quality battle with the state, Gov. Larry Hogan and Exelon announced Tuesday.

“Exelon Generation and the State of Maryland share a commitment to restoring and sustaining the health of the Chesapeake Bay, which has been strengthened by this agreement,” said Chris Crane, president and CEO of Exelon, in a prepared statement. “This is a victory for clean energy and the long-term preservation of the Chesapeake Bay."

The investment of $213.5 million will be divided among 10 projects, the largest pertaining to new requirements for flow control to create more natural conditions in the Lower Susquehanna. The $52 million investment will enhance aquatic life and the downstream ecosystem and make a better upstream passage for migratory fish, according to a state news release.

Read more: https://www.delmarvanow.com/story/news/2019/10/29/conowingo-dam-legal-battle-ends-200-m-settlement-bay-restoration/2496079001/