Residents worry about biomass plant

GREENFIELD, Mass. (WWLP) - Greenfield residents say they have a lot of questions about a wood burning biomass power plant.

The proposed plant heads next to the Zoning Board of Appeals.

A meeting Thursday night was postponed after too many people showed up to the meeting.

The plant would be located at the end of Butternut Street in the Industrial Park.

Residents worry that with 60 tons of wood burning per hour, and over 50 trucks a day carrying fuel by their houses, their quality of life will change.

There are upsides to the plant.

According to Mayor Christine Forgey it could bring in over a million dollars a year in taxes for the town, and provide jobs.

However Howard Stone lives right near across from the industrial park says he's worried.

After doing some research he wants to know about noise, smoke, soot, and 50 or so trucks that will drive by his house every day.

"Its emissions my wife is an asthmatic, and reading some of the reports where people simply had to move because of respiratory problems," says Stone.

Matthew Wolfe with Madera Energy Inc. which is running the project says they'll be well within safety and noise standards.

"Its actually dirtier to live next to a wood stove than it is to live next to us, and the reason that is, is because we have millions and millions of dollars of emission control equipment," says Wolfe.

Resident Mike Slahetka says he wants proof they'll be safe.

"We want the real truth, and its got to be signed off and sealed on by an independent study," says Slahetka.

That Zoning Board of Appeals meeting that was canceled last night has been rescheduled to May 26th at the Greenfield Middle School.