On Monday morning, at an 8 AM meeting, the Greenfield Zoning Board of Appeals granted Matt Wolfe of Madera Energy the special permit he's been seeking from the town to build a $2.5 million, 47- megawatt wood-burning biomass electrical plant on a property next to the town's industrial park. The board imposed a number of conditions upon the project.Some charge that the meeting was not posted 48 hours in advance, and that a violation of state open meeting law occurred.
Wolfe will still need several state and federal permits. Read local reporting on the meeting here:
Anita Fritz in the Greenfield Recorder
Anita Fritz in the Daily Hampshire Gazette (longer story, subscription required)
David Vallette on MassLive
Nate Walsh for ABC40
WWLP clips on Greenfield biomass
Montaguema.net forum
Has a detailed environmental impact statement been conducted for this project? It's astounding to me that a potentially destructive project like this is even being contemplated right now in light of all we know about the dangers of greenhouse gas emissions and the other impacts the plant could have on the environment, natural resources and local economy.
ReplyDeleteWhere is the green revolution we keep hearing about? Why isn't Massachusetts taking a lead on this as Governor Patrick promised? All of us should be outraged!
No EIR required for this plant as part of the MEPA process. No analysis so far from the state on the cumulative impact of the 4 proposed western Mass plants. Have an article coming out in this week's Valley Advocate that looks at biomass as a regional issue; should be posted to their site sometime today.
ReplyDeleteIf an EIR isn't required for this project, then what potential damage must a project cause before an in-depth study is triggered under state law? Clearly, something is wrong with the MEPA process if highly polluting wood-burning plants (I can't even believe I am typing this!) can get an easy pass at a perfunctory local meeting presided by people with ZERO knowledge of environmental or economic impact analysis. It's a disgrace bordering on the criminal.
ReplyDeleteIt is frustrating to watch a local board make a decision with such sweeping regional impact. That's Massachusetts, with its strong tradition of home rule. The Patrick Administration has indeed been fast-tracking the permitting of biomass plants. A provision of the Green Communities Act requires that electrical utilities buy increasing percentages of their power from technologies that are included in the state's Renewable Portfolio Standard (RPS.) Biomass is indeed included in the state's RPS, so there you go.
ReplyDeleteMary, are you aware of any early planning in Northampton for similar plants? Do Higgins, Bardsley and others in the City Council have a position on this matter? Knowing how easily Greenfield was able to get the preliminary OK, I think it's vital for citizens in Northampton to let their voices be heard now before the Mayor starts meeting behind the scenes and presents her already set plans to the public for comment, as she's done in the past. Thanks for staying on top of this critical issue for us.
ReplyDeleteHave heard nothing. Hmmm...how about that old Kollmorgen site on King Street? Combined with the Hill and Dale Mall? Uhh...just kidding.
ReplyDelete