Williamstown, Williams Can Challenge Biomass Plant

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WILLIAMSTOWN, Mass. — The Vermont Public Service Board has granted status to the town of Williamstown, Williams College and Berkshire Regional Planning Commission in its hearings on a 29.5-megawatt biomass plant being proposed just over the border.

The order, received by iBerkshires late last night from the Bennington-Berkshire Citizens Coalition, grants the town and Williams College intervenor status and the BRPC full party status to challenge the construction of energy facility at the former Green Mountain Racetrack in Pownal.

Beaver Wood Energy LLC, which is proposing the wood-burning wood-burning and pellet-manufacturing plant, had objected to the three Massachusetts entities, arguing that "the Board's Section 248 jurisdiction over a proposed in-state generation facility's impacts ends at the Vermont border." 

The board, however, responded that "Construction and operation of the proposed project have the potential to generate impacts outside of Vermont, and the Board has jurisdiction to impose conditions that would mitigate those impacts. Given the close proximity of the proposed project to Massachusetts, there is a possibility that residents of Massachusetts will face greater impacts from the proposed project than will Vermont residents."


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The decision is a second blow to the company, which was denied permitting for early construction last month that would have put it in line for up to $50 million in federal stimulus funds.


"This is a hugely important step in our effort to keep the beautiful Hoosic River valley and its environs, which the citizens of Pownal and Williamstown share, free from pollution and environmental degradation," wrote Steve Dew, a member of the Bennington-Berkshire Citizens Coalition.

The order comes just days after the Pownal Select Board, by a 3-2 vote, decided to send a letter to the Public Service Board urging it to deny the Massachusetts entities a role in the permitting process.

The board also granted status to Vermont's Agencies of Agriculture, Food and Markets and of Transportation; Southern Vermont Citizens for Environmental Conservation & Sustainable Energy Inc.; Richard and Leslie Morgenthal, James Winchester, and Joseph Tornabene ("Neighbors") and abuttor Pamela Lyttle. Williams College was also granted pro hac vice admission of attorney Daryl J. Lapp of Edwards Angell Palmer & Dodge LLP, to appear in this proceeding on behalf of the college. 

In light of the number of entities seeking status, the order by Hearing Officer Edward McNamara suggests "parties with similar interests to work together in the preparation of testimony and discovery, as well as the examination of witnesses."

Groups on both sides of the border established the Bennington-Berkshire Citizens Coalition, which has been sharply questioning the need and efficiency of the plant, its possible environmental effects and the background of Beaver Wood's principals.

Vermont Public Service Board Intervention Order
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Williamstown Select Board Discusses Plans of Action

By Stephen DravisiBerkshires Staff
WILLIAMSTOWN, Mass. — The Select Board on Monday discussed the its priorities for the 2024-25 session and projects on which individual members of the board want to focus in the year ahead.
 
As a starting point for the conversation, Chair Stephanie Boyd pointed the panel to the comprehensive plan adopted in November 2023 by the Planning Board.
 
"The comprehensive plan, overall, is managed by the Planning Board, but a lot of the initiatives involve more than just the Planning Board to work on," Boyd said. "Some are outside the work of the Planning Board."
 
Boyd included in the packet for Monday's meeting the plan's implementation matrix, a spreadsheet of about 110 action items pulled from the 70-page document.
 
"This is a tool for us to use or not as we see fit," she said.
 
Shana Dixon noted that the comprehensive plan, titled "Envisioning Williamstown 2035," is just one tool at the board's disposal.
 
"The CARES Report," Dixon said. "I wanted to see how it aligns with this plan. We received that report and haven't touched base on anything that's in there. … I just feel like there's something in there that can work with what we have in front of us.
 
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