New biomass plant could bring revenue

GREENFIELD, Mass. (WWLP) - A new biomass power plant could bring jobs and electricity to Greenfield but some residents aren't happy about the plan.

The Massachusetts Environmental Protection Agency has given an initial thumbs up to the project that would place the biomass plant at the end of Butternut Street, inside the Greenfield Industrial Park. The plant would burn wood, and natural wood waste products.

Mayor Christine Forgey says the project will bring jobs, over a million dollars in property taxes, and will even reuse some of the towns wastewater to cool the plant.

"That will be bought by the energy plant so that will be $250,000 paid to the town every year for the wastewater," said Forgey

David Barclay with the Northeast Sustainable Energy Association says its a complex situation for environmental reasons. Some biomass plants can be a fairly green power source, in that they can be carbon neutral if they're growing what they're burning.

"The air quality issue can be a consideration, for example if what's being burned is construction waste there can be toxic things that are released into the atmosphere," said Barclay.

Mayor Forgey said that using clean wood waste from forest lands, not construction waste, is already part of the deal.

John Roldan literally lives right across the street from where the proposed site for the plant is. He's not only worried about pollution but the noise from a plant.

"I moved here for that reason, to be away from town on the outskirts and have some peace and tranquility, this place is going to change that," said Roldan.

Roldan also said he wants some answers, especially about traffic problems with 50 or more trucks a day bringing in fuel. He's hoping to bring those before the Planning Board meeting next week, and the Zoning Board of Appeals, the week after.