Springfield revokes biomass permit

SPRINGFIELD, Mass (WWLP) - The Springfield City Council has voted 9 to 2 to revoke a special use permit for a wood-burning biomass plant.

However it could open the city up to a lawsuit from the developer.

The council originally voted to approve the permit for Palmer Renewable Energy's biomass power plant in 2008 but the council decided to take another look at the permit last week.

After hearing hours of testimony they moved the vote to Monday night.

Here's how the councilor's voted, a yes is for revocation of the permit.
Zaida Luna - Yes
Michael Fenton -Yes
Melvin Edwards - Yes
Henry Twiggs - Yes
John Lysak- Yes
Clodo Concepcion - Yes
Thomas Ashe - Yes
James Ferrera - absent
Timothy Rooke - No
Jose Tosado - Yes
Kateri Walsh - No

Revoking the permit puts a halt on the project.

Frank Fitzgerald, attorney for Palmer Renewable Energy, said that the project had every other necessary permit except for one for one state air quality permit.

Dozens of people opposed to the plant cheered and waved signs after the council's vote.

"Maybe it will only pollute a little but that little is too much for many people in the city," said Michael Ann Bewsee.

"Maybe it will only pollute a little but that little is too much for many people in the city." said Sue Reid with the Conservation Law Foundation who spoke at the first meeting.

A few dozen people were there in support of the plant, mainly representatives from unions who had held signs at the hearing the week before touting Biomass jobs.

None of the supporters would speak to reporters.

Councilor Michael Fenton said the council had to have "just cause" to revoke the permit.

He said that they needed to prove that the project was significantly different than the original plans that earned the permit.

"Increased truck traffic, increased pollution from the trucks, bigger trucks different truck routes including where they're going to be going in the facility and more tonnage going into the plant," said Fenton, listing what he thinks are differences from the original plan.

Tim Rooke one of the only councilman who voted not to revoke the permit said only minor changes were made to the project, and the changes only made the project less problematic.

"We've opened up the city and the residents to a multi-million dollar lawsuit that when we lose it will shut down city services," said Rooke.

Palmer renewable Energy's lawyer isn't commenting on a potential lawsuit yet.

"At this point in time it's a litigation matter and that's all I can say," said Fitzgerald.