Protesters renew call to halt planned power plant

Date: 8/23/2011

Aug. 24, 2011

By Debbie Gardner

Assistant Editor

WESTFIELD — Activists from Westfield Concerned Citizens (WCC) renewed their call for a halt to the proposed oil and natural gas fired power plant on Ampad Road with a protest on Aug. 17.

Waving signs and supporting a lengthy collection of more than 400 petition signatures, approximately 30 people gathered across the street the from Southampton Road Elementary School to call for James Gordon, CEO of Energy Management Inc., the parent company of plant applicant Pioneer Valley Energy Center (PVEC), to cease his efforts to build a 431-megawatt power plant on Ampad Road.

“We really need this message to go to Jim Gordon, CEO of Energy Management, who is also responsible for Cape Wind [development],” WCC protester Kathy Dowd said. “This is totally the wrong site [for his project]. We’re not against power plants, but this is totally the wrong site.”

Matthew Palmer, project manager for the PVEC told Reminder Publications that his project, which was first proposed in 2008, is “totally permitted at the local level” and that it has the support of not only the Westfield City Council and Mayor Daniel Knapik, but also that of State Sen. Michael Knapik, State Rep. Donald Humason Jr. and many area businesses. He confirmed that it still needs an air quality permit from the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency (EPA), and resolutions to appeals that have been brought by protesters regarding its wetlands and sewer permits before construction can begin.

According to materials provided by WCC and Toxics Action Center, the proposed plant would be located behind the soccer fields at North Middle School, within a mile and a half radius of five schools, one day care and five elderly communities and mobile home parks.

In her remarks, Jessica Edgerly of Toxics Action Center cited the various toxins that the proposed plant would emit, including arsenic, ammonia, benzene and fine particulates. She said these particulates would carry the toxins “deep into the lungs” of residents exposed to the smoke. She said the elderly, sick and children, who are still growing and developing, would be the most affected by these toxins.

“Unfortunately, air pollution regulations set limits for toxic exposure based on acceptable exposure rates for a 15-pound adult,” Edgerly said. “If you’re less than 150 pounds, if you’re still growing and developing, well you are just out of luck.”

Palmer said the EPA has established new national ambient air quality standards designed to protect health and the environment, “including the most sensitive populations, with a margin of safety.” He added the Massachusetts Department of Environmental Protection (DEP) has determined the projected impact of PVEC will be below the national ambient air quality standard.

“This is the DEP — an independent agency — saying there will be no harm from PVEC,” Palmer said.

MaryAnn Babinski, president of WCC, who is also a former teacher, said her organization has been fighting against the construction of this plant since it was first proposed in 2008.

The group’s overarching concern, she said, is the health of city residents, especially children who will live and attend school in the neighborhood near the proposed plant.

Gail Bean, a member of WCC, said in the past the group delivered “more than 400 signatures to the City Council, but they didn’t address [our complaint].”

She said WCC recently partnered with Toxic Action Center to reinvigorate the campaign against the proposed plant.

Palmer acknowledged that WCC is “clearly doing everything it can to stop this project,” noting the group recently brought an appeal against the project’s air quality permit, which was issued by the state in 2009. Mass DEP Commissioner Ken Kimmell recently dismissed that appeal.

“This decision demonstrates that PVEC will be the cleanest, most efficient facility of its kind in all of New England,” Palmer said in a recent press release about the decision. “Our Air Quality Permit has been thoroughly reviewed and found to be solid. We meet or exceed all environmental requirements.”

Babinski said the EPA is scheduled to conduct one last air quality public hearing in Westfield regarding the plant this fall.

Katie Barzee, spokesperson for WCC, said the organization has now changed its strategy and is calling on Gordon, who is spearheading the Cape Wind project on Nantucket Sound, to abandon the proposed power plant in favor of concentrating on his alternative energy ventures.

Debbie Gardner can be reached by e-mail at debbieg@thereminder.com