Planning Board discusses changes coming to state energy siting permitting

WESTFIELD — City Planner Jay Vinskey informed the Planning Board on Sept. 2 about changes coming from the state on clean energy project regulation and permitting.

Before he began, Planning Board chair Wlliam Carellas commented that they couldn't put a battery energy storage site in Westfield, so they're "going around it."

"Someone from the state came to talk with me about this state proposal. This would relate to the battery energy storage project that was much discussed this summer. The state is going through a process to establish permitting of these types of things, not just that but solar and wind," Vinskey said, , referring to a recent visit from Clean Energy Siting & Permitting Regional Coordinator Allison Gage from the Massachusetts Department of Energy Resources.

"Essentially, they're dividing it up into really big projects that would go through the state for approval, and smaller ones which have a local aspect that would result in some kind of comprehensive permit that would have to be given in a certain amount of time. They're looking to structure this new permitting path."

Vinskey said over the fall and winter, the state will be looking at some draft regulations for how the new process actually materializes, so when new projects are proposed, there will be a clearer path for permitting. He told the Planning Board that ultimately they will probably have a zoning ordinance to adopt that comports with the new process and how to regulate it locally.

"It seemed to me there would be an ability to prohibit them on the aquifer water resource district- at least the person I talked to said that wouldn't be unreasonable. On the smaller scale stuff, we still will have some local controls," Vinskey said, adding that he just wanted to let the board know that changes were in the works.

"The way I look at this is like ADUs (accessory dwelling units) rammed down our throat," Carellas said. He said the state didn't like the fact that everywhere you go, towns posted signs reading, "No BESS in my town." "They're everywhere. I think this is the state's way of doing exactly what they did with ADUs," he said.

"They have that ability now to supersede the zoning. This just makes it clearer that they can, that they would be in charge of some of these bigger projects," Vinskey said.

"Once this is approved, we really don't have a leg to stand on," said Cheryl Crowe.

Vinskey said he didn't want to get ahead of himself because he hadn't yet studied the proposal. "I don't understand the point of having these zoning permits and wetlands permits and then you issue a single permit. I don't see how those steps all come together in a logical way," he said.

Carellas asked if Vinskey thought the state would listen to the city about the need to protect the Air National Guard base at Westfield Barnes Airport. "If we say we have a national security entity on the north side that's protecting the whole East Coast — we can't take the chance of having them grounded because of any sort of issue with these things. Maybe Barnes would have to sign on. If you've got F35s coming in here, that is a huge financial boon to Westfield and a major security point for the northeast — you can't take a chance with something like this. Do you think the state will listen to us," Carellas said.

"I think whatever process they develop at the state level will be pretty extensive with the factors they consider," Vinskey said. "I can't imagine there wouldn't be some type of local outreach, hearing through the state to collect local input."

The state's proposal for energy infrastructure siting and permitting reforms may be found at mass.gov/info-details/energy-infrastructure-siting-and-permitting-reforms .

According to the site, the Commonwealth is working to implement comprehensive reforms of siting and permitting processes for clean energy infrastructure, as required by climate legislation signed into law in November 2024.

Read the original article on MassLive .