Springfield to pursue technical assistance on energy planning

The town will pursue a technical-assistance grant to help rewrite the energy chapter of the town plan, which it hopes will give Springfield a leg up in getting its voice heard before the Public Service Board on energy projects.

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Published January 11, 2017 in the Rutland Herald Springfield to pursue technical assistance on energy planning By SUSAN SMALLHEER SPRINGFIELD — The town will pursue a technical-assistance grant to help rewrite the energy chapter of the town plan, which it hopes will give Springfield a leg up in getting its voice heard before the Public Service Board on energy projects. Some in the town still haven’t gotten over the decision by the PSB to reject the large, wood-fired power plant proposed in North Springfield by Winstanley Enterprises, and the town at the time said there was no avenue for it to voice support of the project. On a 4-0 vote, with one abstention, the Select Board agreed to write a letter to the Southern Windsor County Regional Planning Commission, asking to be one of three local communities that will be eligible for the technical-assistance money. Char Osterlund, chairwoman of the Springfield Energy Committee, asked the Select Board to write a letter of support, seeking the technical assistance. She said the town committee is willing to revise the town plan, and do the necessary research, that state law requires for the town to be granted “substantial deference.” in the state review process in any future Act 248 review. Osterlund said the Springfield Planning Commission is “on board with it” as well. She said the town boards will have to provide maps and data analysis to win the town extra consideration. “It’s very data driven,” she said. Selectman George McNaughton abstained, adding that he was tempted to vote against it outright. The regional commission does not pay close enough attention to local concerns, he said. “I’m a little bit ambivalent on this grant,” he said, adding he wouldn’t fight it. “I don’t have a lot of trust for the regional planning commission.” But McNaughton said the Energy Committee “had several pretty feisty people on it. ... They will push back on the regional commission.” He said several people in town were interested in revitalizing the hydroelectric potential of the Black River, which runs through town. Three hydro stations are operating, he said, and an equal number are inoperable. “The Energy Committee will be a really, really good watchdog,” agreed Selectman Walter Martone. Selectman Peter MacGillivray said the town was thwarted in supporting a five-lot solar development, proposed by the Winstanley Corp., since PSB rules prohibited clustering so many solar installations close to each other. http://www.rutlandherald.com/article/20170111/NEWS02/170119896