In appreciation: William Schrenk

The obituary for Bill Schrenk in your Jan. 28 issue doesn’t mention the very vital role Bill played as legal advisor in the formation of the Berkshire Litchfield Environmental Conservancy Council in the mid-60s, now known as the Berkshire Litchfield Environmental Council (BLEC), primarily to confront a local massive engineering proposal to be “handmaiden to nuclear power.” This entailed an upper and lower sump. 

Because of BLEC, the beautiful Wangum Valley in Falls Village is preserved, as well as Schenob Brook Swamp in Sheffield.

One of the two was to be designated by then-Northeast Utilities for a huge environmentally disastrous pumped power storage site. 

The utility determined Wangum Valley/Canaan Mountain was more suitable. Thanks to the formation of BLEC and the legal expertise of Bill Morrill, who was hired a bit later — I’m sure through Bill Schrenk’s sage advice and guidance — the project never was consummated. We are eternally grateful.

Ellery W. Sinclair

Falls Village

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