‘Frankenpermit’ for Springfield biomass plant likely, but opponents plot finale to 15-year fight
SPRINGFIELD — "Frankenpermit" is back.
Palmer Renewable Energy is likely to get an OK Wednesday from the Zoning Board of Appeals whether board members want to or not.
Palmer Renewable is on the agenda for the Zoning Board of Appeals 6 p.m. Feb. 4 in the Front Conference Room, 70 Tapley St., Springfield.
Opponents of the proposed Palmer Renewable Energy wood-fired power plant in East Springfield pin their hopes on a separate lawsuit challenging the controversial power plant's state-issued air-quality permit and on state legislation that could disqualify all biomass plants for the clean-energy credits needed by municipal power utilities.
"But they are a step closer to actually making this monstrosity happen," said Verne McArthur of the Springfield Climate Justice Coalition. "We've been battling this, what we call zombie project, for 15 years. It just doesn't make sense to me."
The power plant will pollute, opponents like McArthur say. The neighborhood already has high rates of respiratory illness. And the plant will contribute to the escalating climate emergency.
Lawyers for Palmer Renewables did not respond to calls or emails this week.
Palmer Paving Corporation at 1000 Page Boulevard in Springfield. In May, the Massachusetts Appeals Court ruled in favor of Palmer Renewable Energy's attempt to revive its biomass plant using permits that expired over a decade ago. The plant was originally proposed as a 35-megawatt biomass facility. (Douglas Hook / The Republican)Douglas Hook
Last year, Massachusetts Appeals Court ruled against project opponents, including the Springfield City Council, all represented by the Conservation Law Foundation, and sided with Palmer Renewable Energy saying the 2011 permits are still good. Palmer argued that Great Recession-era state laws meant to spur development by pausing permits applied.
The nickname "Frankenpermit," or zombie permit, comes from opponent's frustration that the project keeps coming back.
The state Supreme Judicial Court didn't take up the case. So, the court ordered the city to issue the permit stands.
Springfield City Solicitor Stephen Buoniconti said the law department's advice to ZBA members is that the ZBA has no choice but to comply with the court's order and reinstate the permit. Their deadline to act is Feb. 10.
"But my understanding is this is not the final hurdle for this project to move forward," Buoniconti said.
There are zoning issues outstanding given the age of the project, he said.
The air permit litigation between the state and Palmer is ongoing with matters in the appeals court paused while procedural things get ironed out in the lower court, the Superior Court. There's a status update due to the Appeals Court March 18.
The state legislative fix over green energy credits, a change that could make the project financially unfeasible, is still alive on Beacon Hill, said state Sen. Adam Gomez, D-Springfield, Thursday.
Gomez, an opponent of the project going back to his days on Springfield City Council, said he met with leadership just Wednesday to get a Senate bill similar to one that's already found favor in the state House of Representatives.
"We're going to stop it," Gomez said.
Stories by Jim Kinney
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