Posted by Ed on July 26, 2007, 8:44 pm http://www.townonline.com/billerica/homepage/x1807337003 By Margaret Smith The board ruled recently that Billerica Watchers Group — including 17 "This is really good news," said Ed Camplese, who has spoken on Camplese said members plan to speak about a host of worries the group Members of Billerica Watchers Group also can act as individual Judy Luciano and her husband, Brian Siegel, are two of the four Luciano, who said she lives within a half mile of the plant site, She said group members were able to pool funds to hire legal "The air quality is my big concern," said Luciano, who said a review Tim Shevlin, spokesman for the state Energy Facilities Siting Board, In the main, any individual or group who wants to qualify as an "They are considered full parties," Shevlin said. "They can get Shevlin said the board met July 15 to set a schedule with a tentative In ruling that Billerica Watchers Group qualifies as an intervener, Montgomery Energy Billerica Power Partners also said Billerica The Energy Facilities Siting Board, under the state's department of However, proponents are now willing to move on and get the hearing "We've had interveners in other cases, Fitzpatrick said, who called Fitzpatrick said proponents thought people who didn't leave near the Referring to criteria for obtaining intervener status, Fitzpatrick History of debate The power plant has sparked both support and protests since the Most recently, developers have scaled back the scope of the project, Montgomery Energy Billerica Power Partners said the plan now calls Although originally proposed as a 360-megawatt plant, developers, DG Joe Fitzpatrick, president and CEO of DG Clean Power, said the Although specifics were not available, Fitzpatrick said the new Fitzpatrick said the changes in the dimensions and capacity of the The proponents tapped Rolls Royce America - the company that Proponents maintain that the plant will not be heard, seen, or smelt Nearly 250 people gathered at the Marshall Middle School in April for Fitzpatrick said there are no immediate plans to hold any other
24.34.144.49
Group can participate in energy plant hearings
Billerica Minuteman
Thu Jul 26, 2007, 12:08 PM EDT
A neighbors' group critical of a proposed North Billerica power plant
and several neighbors will have their say when a series of Energy
Facilities Siting Board hearings on the project gets under way.
town residents, four residents of Tewksbury and a Pepperell resident
who formerly lived in Billerica — qualify as so-called interveners,
who can give testimony, solicit documents and express their concerns
as well as keep tabs on the progress of the hearings.
behalf of Billerica Watchers Group, which has attended local forums
and voiced many concerns about the a so-called clean-burning plant,
proposed by DG Clean Power, Inc.
has voiced at past forums on the proposed plants. "We are worried
about possible impact to the air and water supply, on environmental
impact, on the river," Camplese said.
interveners in addition to participating within the group. The
hearings will take place at the board's offices in Boston.
Tewksbury residents who qualify as interveners in their own right and
as members of Billerica Watchers Group.
said, although she and the others can speak as individual
interveners, their strength and likely strategies will be as a group.
representation in an effort to bolster their case.
of documents regarding the proposed plant gave her concerns about
emissions. She also questions emergency protocol should a fire break
out at or near the site.
said Billerica Watchers Group and other residents met several
standards in order to qualify as interveners in the hearing process.
intervener has to demonstrate that the proposed project could have a
significant impact on the would-be intervener.
copies of all documents. They can file testimony, file responses to
other testimonies, cross-examine witnesses, and they have appellate
rights."
timeline, with an eye toward beginning the hearing process Oct. 2.
the board rejected opposition by proponent Montgomery Energy
Billerica Power Partners, which argued Billerica Watchers Group is
not incorporated and has no formal legal status.
Watchers Group did not adequately argue that members would be
significantly affected by the plant.
Telecommunications and Energy, permits the construction of major
energy manufacturers in the state.
process going, said Joe Fitzpatrick but Joe Fitzpatrick, president
and CEO of DG Clean Power.
the ruling "Yesterday's news." Fitzpatrick added, "We obviously want
the hearings to move on some timely basis, but that's up to the
board."
plant could argue the same potential impact as those who live close
to the site.
said, "We felt some of them shouldn't have gotten included."
proposal was first unveiled in December. Plans have also undergone
two revisions.
with a decreased wattage and fewer turbines than outlined in the
proponents' original plan - a move that marks the second time the
specifics of the plan has changed.
for a six turbine, 348-megawatt peaking power plant, to be built off
Billerica Avenue, which would supply power 1,500 hours each year
during times of significant demand on energy.
Clean Power, changed the scope to an eight-turbine, 480-megawatt
plant in early 2007. The revised plan is similar in scope to the
first version proponents presented to town officials.
reduced scope will also mean a reduction in potential tax revenues
for the town.
figure would be about three-quarters of the original value of $230
million.
proposed plant did not result from criticism from some opponents, but
from engineers' recommendations to make the plant a more suitable fit
for the location.
manufactures the famous car of the same name - to supply the six, gas-
fired, turbine engines for the peaking plant, given that developers
garner all the local and state permits to construct and operate the
plant.
and that it will not have any adverse effects on the health of
surrounding residents.
the opening of a hearing conducted by the staff of the Energy
Facilities Siting Board, in which residents and public officials had
the opportunity to pose questions to developers.
community forums in town.
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