Clarksburg Latest to Halt Outdoor Wood Furnaces

By Tammy DanielsiBerkshires Staff
06:48AM / Thursday, September 18, 2008Print Story | Email Story

CLARKSBURG — Town officials have put the kibosh on permits for outdoor wood furnaces — at least until state decides how to regulate them.

The Selectmen last week declared a moratorium on any new installations of the furnaces, known as hydronic heaters. Homeowners can continue to operate existing furnaces for now.

"These furnaces can cost $12,000, $14,000," said Selectman Carl McKinney. "We don't want someone spending that kind of money to put one in and then find out they have to take it out."

Clarksburg is the latest municipality to consider regulating the use of the shedlike furnaces. Adams banned the furnaces last year and North Adams declared a moratorium on their installation until the city could formulate ordinances relating to them.

The boilers burn wood to heat water or anti-freeze that is piped into an existing heating system. The furnaces have raising concerns over air pollution and public health.

They've exploded in popularity as other fuels, such as natural gas and heating oil, have doubled and tripled in price over recent years. They come in a range of sizes and are priced in the thousands.

But states and municipalities have been cracking down on their use after neighbors have complained of smoke-filled homes and soot. Maine is considering a buy-back program for polluting furnaces.

"As more units have been installed, and installed increasingly in more urban or suburban areas, MassDEP has received many complaints from neighbors of OHH installations about the unhealthy effects of the smoke produced and interference with the use of their property," according to MassDEP in stating the need for regulations.

McKinney and Chairwoman Debra LeFave said the town did not want to discourage residents seeking alternative fuels, but it did want to make sure that public safety issues are addressed.

"But once the [Department of Environmental Protection] comes out with new regulations, we'll have to take them up," said McKinney.

The DEP held a number of hearings through the summer on the furnaces and has produced draft regulations that would limit their use, fuels, setbacks and emissions. The proposals are expected to be completed by Oct. 1, in time for the heating season.

McKinney said the several existing furnaces (the exact number is unknown) would hopefully be able to operate with minor adjustments, if any. "Maybe they'll have to extend their smokestack 20 feet."

For more information on air quality testing on outdoor wood furnaces, see Northeast States for Coordinated Air Use Management.

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If wood stoves need to have chimneys at a specific height to get the smoke over houses, these should too. How could these be allowed to be put in in the first place without specs?
from: reader	on: 09-18-2008 12:00AM I Agree (0) - I Disagree (0)

I wonder how many of the board are in the pocket of the local oil and gas companies...enact a moratorium, local oil dealers profit, "donate" to your reelection coffers...
from: Don't Trust Them	on: 09-19-2008 12:00AM I Agree (0) - I Disagree (0)

The problem is this as quoted by the U.S. EPA: "Current outdoor wood-fired heaters are substantially less efficient and more polluting than other home-heating devices." That pretty much sums it up. An OWB creates on average 72 g/hr of pm 2.5 particulate matter as compared to other forms of heating (even with wood) of: OWB = 72 g/hr Conventional Wood Stove = 18 g/hr EPA Certified Stove = 6 g/hr Oil Furnace = 0.07 g/hr Gas Furnace = 0.04 g/hr Secondly, these DON'T I repeat DON'T save a person money. These cost around at minimum $10,000-$15,000 to purchase and operate before you even throw your first log on the fire. So when someone claims "I can't afford my bills" well they sure could afford $10,000 to buy one of these monstrosities. I know I don't have $10,000 to throw down on anything much less, something like this. Also take into consideration the $2,000 -$5,000 in installation costs that are associated with this. You can easily spend $15,000 before the so-called savings even start. So don't believe the "I'm so poor I can't heat my home" argument because it is all bogus. So in closing would you want this across from your home? Probably not......
from: Air Freedom	on: 09-21-2008 12:00AM I Agree (0) - I Disagree (0)

If you raise the stack on these things you'll have to raise the burning rate to force the smoke out. this will lower the eef. I think they are a bad idea and need to go.
from: Hot water	on: 09-23-2008 12:00AM I Agree (0) - I Disagree (0)

Lanesborough Town Meeting to Vote Budget, Bylaws & Vehicle Purchases

By Breanna SteeleiBerkshires Staff
04:21PM / Monday, June 08, 2026

LANESBOROUGH, Mass. — Tuesday's annual town meeting includes a $14 million operating budget, new short-term rentals, accessory dwelling units and sign bylaws, and free cash article appropriations.

Voters will gather at Lanesborough Elementary School on June 9 at 6 p.m. to decide on 20 warrant articles.

The fiscal 2027 budget is up a little over 10 percent. Some of the main increases are the Mount Greylock Regional School District and McCann Technical School: the McCann assessment is up more than 30 percent based on factors including enrollment and the school renovation project, and Mount Greylock's is up 11 percent.

Article 11 is for the town to vote to approve from free cash the sum of $16,298.48 for the McCann Technical School roof and window replacement project so as not to impact the budget. Article 3 is appropriate $7,586,284 for Mount Greylock Regional School assessment.

Another notable increase was in life and health insurance, showing an increase of about 26 percent.

Ambulance Director Jen Weber is planning 24-hour coverage, which means more staff and a hike in her budget. One of the articles asks the town to appropriate $234,100 to operate the Ambulance Enterprise Fund for salaries and expenses.

Many town departments are looking for new vehicles. The Fire Department is looking to replace its outdated 1996 fire engine. There are two articles related to the truck at a total of $813,366. Article 12 would transfer $225,000 from free cash into the Fire Truck Stabilization Fund; Article 13 would transfer $605,000 from the fund and authorize the borrowing of $208,366.08.

The total includes a $100,000 contingency cost to cover any additional costs if a 2026 model-year chassis cannot be secured before new emissions standards go into effect in 2027.

The board at its last meeting moved the $225,000 transfer to come before the borrowing article, changing the stabilization number. If the $225,000 is not voted on, then they will amend the next article's number on the floor, subtracting the $225,000. This shows the borrowing number significantly lower.

Article 17 asks for the transfer of $80,000 from free cash to replace a police cruiser.

Police Chief Rob Derksen's aim is to replace one vehicle every other year, meaning the oldest vehicle gets replaced about every 10 years.

He stressed that if delayed this year, the town may have to double up in a future year to get back on schedule, and that paying later usually costs more. The article will ask for $80,000 from free cash, the vehicles used to be funded by the BHRD.

Lastly, the Highway Department is looking to replace a 2014 International dump truck that will be a total of $330,000 and will take two to three years to receive.

Money will be used from last year's approval of $250,000 from free cash for the replacement of a 2012 highway front-end loader that was underspent $49,261. Town meeting is being asked to approve a transfer of $53,274.85 from free cash and the use of $227,464 from funds from the Sale of Town Real Estate to fund the balance.

Other free cash proposals include $1,200 to purchase software to support tracking and ongoing maintenance schedules of town-owned vehicles; $42,000 for the replacement of the Highway Department's storage shed roof, $200,000 to reduce the tax levy.

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