Biomass special permit up for reexamination Dec. 13

Date: 12/13/2010

Dec. 13, 2010

By G. Michael Dobbs

Managing Editor

SPRINGFIELD -- In reaction to a 388-page document submitted by Palmer Renewable Energy (PRE) that details changes to its state permit made necessary by the decision to switch its fuel from demolition and construction waste to green wood chips, members of the City Council will revisit the city's existing special permit for the project at its meeting on Dec. 13.

Councilors Michael Fenton, Melvin Edwards, Tim Allen and John Lysak made the announcement at a press conference on Dec. 8.

The four councilors read part of a letter from the presidents of the city's three four-year colleges who questioned the legitimacy of the city's original permit now that PRE is seeking changes on the state level.

"This [PRE] is an issue second to none," Fenton said.

The facility would be built in Lysak's ward and he noted, "so many people are against it."

Allen said that with one-fourth of the area's students being asthma patients the issue "can't be taken lightly."

Council President Jose Tosado has asked City Solicitor Edward Pikula for a legal opinion on the college president's points.

"I am particularly interested in your legal opinion as to whether there is a legal basis 'just cause' for revoking the special permit issued to Palmer Renewable Energy. If in your opinion there is 'just cause,' I would like to begin the process for revocation of the special permit," Tosado wrote.

Tosado continued, "As you know, the City Council has been making attempts to have the state complete an Environmental Impact Study without success. Recently, we submitted a resolve urging that the state complete such a study and as recently as this afternoon I spoke directly with Mr. David Cash who is the Assistant Secretary of Policy for the State Energy and Environmental Office. I asked Mr. Cash for a re-consideration of their position on the environmental impact study and was told that it likely would not happen. I then invited Mr. Cash to come to Springfield and meet with the City Council and residents to explain why the study was not warranted. Mr. Cash committed to getting back to me early next week with a response to my invitation."

"Given the serious health concerns that have been raised by residents, health professionals and organizations as well as our local institutions of higher learning, at this point if there is legal and just cause for revocation I would like to proceed," Tosado concluded.

Also at the press conference were two members of the Pioneer Valley Building Trades Council who expressed support for the project.

Paul Gour said, "Let it keep going the way it was."

Gour added there are benefits to the city and region in additional jobs and tax revenue.

He believes the state's stringent pollution laws would prevent any problems in the future.