New biomass language in town plan raises concerns

A new provision in the proposed town plan has some residents who oppose the proposed biomass plant very concerned.
http://www.rutlandherald.com/article/20121003/NEWS02/710039887

Published October 3, 2012 in the Rutland Herald New biomass language in town plan raises concerns By SUSAN SMALLHEER Staff Writer SPRINGFIELD — A new provision in the proposed town plan has some residents who oppose the proposed biomass plant very concerned. Bob Kischko, chairman of the North Springfield Action Group, said Tuesday wording included in the proposed plan would open the door to other materials being burned at the proposed North Springfield Sustainable Energy Project. According to Kischko, under the wording the plant would be allowed to burn municipal sewage sludge, which in some engineering circles is considered biomass. A public hearing on the proposed 2012 town plan, along with some zoning changes, is set for Oct. 22, said Town Manager Robert Forguites. Kischko said that many people from his group would be attending the Oct. 22 public hearing to voice opposition to the wording in the plan and support more restrictive language. Kischko said NoSAG is not opposed to using wood for heat, either in individual homes or in schools. What his group opposes is large, industrial-sized biomass, like the 35-meagawatt project proposed for the North Springfield Industrial Park by Winstanley Enterprises and Weston Solutions. “Biomass, for energy production, is renewable materials such as wood, agriculture waste and municipal waste. Biomass can either be burned directly or converted to biofuels such as methane or ethanol. Converting current municipal solid waste, farm waste and other biomass can help to reduce pollution as well as ease the burden on waste management facilities,” is the section of the town plan that has Kischko worried. Winstanley owns the former Fellows Corp. plant, which it has converted and modernized to house several industrial companies. The woodchip plant would be built immediately adjacent to the Fellows building. “I can see real dangers in what they’ve done,” said Kischko. “They’ve described biomass so it can include agriculture and municipal waste, and it opens it up to burning of sludge,” he said. Kischko said he had recently talked to the Springfield Chamber of Commerce and the Springfield Rotary Club, and he urged them to take a trip to a biomass plant that does take sludge, either Fitchburg, Mass., or Cranston, R.I. “Both burn municipal sludge and when you get back in your car, you have to go home with your windows down. I’m extremely worried if the town is opening it up to that,” he said. Kischko said that people need to realize that the town plan really sets the agenda for the future. While the developers of the proposed North Springfield Sustainable Energy Project have said they would only burn green wood chips, Kischko said he is worried about changes down the line. One of the zoning changes would prohibit a medical marijuana dispensary in Springfield, a change drafted by the Springfield Planning Commission at the request of the Springfield Select Board. If adopted, it would be the only use expressly prohibited by zoning regulations. Another change included in the zoning regulations adds the word “undue” to be inserted in front of “adverse impacts” under conditional use permit. Springfield Zoning Administrator Bill Kearns said Tuesday, “without adding ‘undue’ nothing would be allowed because everything has a negative effect, in someone’s mind.” Kearns, who said that the town plan revisions were largely completed early this year, said he wasn’t sure where the language concerning biomass came from. But he noted the plan also has new language about solar and wind, other alternative energies. Kearns said that the town works closely with the Southern Windsor County Regional Planning Commission on its town plan, and that the planning commission worked on a draft from the regional group. Forguites and Kearns said the town plan has to be readopted every five years. Springfield has been working on the latest edition of the town plan for at least two years, Kearns said. If significant changes are made at the Oct. 22 public hearing, Kearns said, the matter would be subject to a second hearing, and input from the Springfield Planning Commission, before being formally adopted. The new town plan can be viewed at springfieldvt.govoffice2.com.