The company recently expanded its operations into Canada by acquiring Hydromega Services, incorporating ten hydroelectric facilities in Québec and Ontario. This move highlights FirstLight’s strategic growth and its efforts to enhance the capacity and reliability of clean energy across the continent. Following the acquisition of hydroelectric facilities in Western Pennsylvania, it is also active in the PJM and New York electricity markets. In addition to its energy production endeavors, FirstLight is deeply involved in community stewardship, maintaining over 14,000 acres of land and hundreds of miles of shoreline and providing recreation opportunities across New England. Its projects support environmental sustainability and contribute to local economies by creating jobs and fostering community development. “FirstLight Power’s story is deeply rooted in the history and evolution of its operations,” Marc Mantha, Vice President and General Manager of Canadian Operations, begins. He elaborates on the company’s origins, tracing back to Abitibi-Consolidated Hydro. “Our beginnings can be traced to 2007 when we were part of Abitibi-Consolidated, a significant newsprint manufacturer. On May 1st, 2007, Abitibi spun off its hydro assets in Ontario, forming a standalone entity.” Mantha explains the company’s journey through turbulent times, noting that in 2010, amidst significant upheavals, Abitibi underwent a Chapter 11 process. “We were sold off to private investors and rebranded as H2O Power. Initially, we managed eight generating facilities in Ontario, all previously linked to paper mills.” He outlines the company’s transformation, detailing the merger with FirstLight Power. “Two years ago, a strategic decision was made to merge H2O Power with FirstLight, leveraging the strengths of both entities to create a unified front in renewable energy.” Mantha shares the geographic and operational significance of the eight significant facilities.“There are two subsets of our facilities. In northeastern Ontario, we have Twin Falls, Iroquois Falls, and Island Falls, contributing about 101MW of capacity, all located on the Abitibi River. The other five are in 101 BUSINESS VIEW MAGAZINE VOLUME 11, ISSUE 08 FIRSTLIGHT POWER
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