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Transformer Fire Knocks Out Power Again in North Berkshire

Crews were working around a damaged transformer at the Adams substation to restore power to some 18,000 customers.

NORTH ADAMS, Mass. — A problem at the Adams substation has knocked out power across northern Berkshire County — again.

And again.

(We kept trying to update this story but the power kept going out!)

Power was lost around 11:30 a.m. Tuesday and then came on again around 1:30 only to go back out a few minutes later.

National Grid spokesman Jake Navarro said  the 18,700 customers who lost power Tuesday morning are in Adams, North Adams, Williamstown, Hancock, Florida, Cheshire and Clarksburg.

Nearly 600 customers across  the state line in Stamford, Vt., were also out, according to Green Mountain Power.

By 3 p.m., the power appeared to be mostly restored in North Adams but areas of North Berkshire were still out, according National Grid's outage map. About 5,000 customers in Williamstown, 4,500 in Clarksburg and Florida, and 4,400 in the city's south end and Adams and Cheshire were still being restored. Stamford had power restored.

Both Williams College and Massachusetts College of Liberal Arts were slowly bringing some of their buildings online.

Scanner reports indicated another blown transformer and crews were called to a substation near Mohawk Forest in North Adams.

Navarro said National Grid had attempted "several solutions that we believed would restore power (at about 1:30 and 2:30), but unfortunately they have only worked temporarily."

He said crews were continuing to work as quickly as possible at the substation to restore — and maintain — power.

Twice during the afternoon power flickered for a minutes before being lost again. After the second time, police determined to stay at the intersections where they had been directing traffic — and only minutes later they were back at work.

Walmart and a number of other stores were closed, as was Adams Town Hall.

An explosion at the station on May 9 knocked out power in those same towns for seven hours.

Kennedy Calls BCC Workforce Graduates Inspiring

By Breanna SteeleiBerkshires Staff
05:40AM / Friday, June 12, 2026

The programs ranged from emergency medical technician to computers to commercial drivers. See more photos here. 

PITTSFIELD, Mass. — Berkshire Community College Workforce and Community Education graduates were encouraged to be all they can be on Wednesday.

 

Graduates, families, friends, and staff gathered in Boland Theatre to celebrate around 100 graduates who completed a variety of courses.

 

They included community health worker, emergency medical technician, phlebotomy technician, registered behavior technician, AI fundamentals, Commercial Drivers License Class A and B, CompTIA Tech-plus, para educator, and English for Speakers of Other Languages.

 

College President Ellen Kennedy said it was amazing that this might be her last public speaking event before her tenure comes to an end.

 

She acknowledged the diverse reasons for their studies including career advancement and personal growth, commending their vulnerability and dedication. 

 

"Some of you explored AI, some of you improved your English speaking in really important ways, and the reason that each of you is here is because you decided to put your heart and soul to get vulnerable to do something that might have felt a little bit uncomfortable," she said. "And you did it, and we are so incredibly proud of you, and so happy to be here tonight, celebrating you."

 

Keynote speaker Shirley Edgerton, founder of Rites of Passage and Empowerment (ROPE) encouraged the graduates to reflect on their accomplishments and look forward to the future.