State wind power plans stir up local concerns

[ Originally published on: Saturday, July 04, 2009 ]

Slow down, the Franklin Regional Planning Board has advised the state about its proposed 'fast-track' wind energy siting legislation.

The Legislature should conduct a hearing in Franklin County, the regional board wrote this week in its comments on the fast-track bill.

The letter, to the House and Senate chairmen of the Joint Committee on Telecommunications, Utilities and Energy, follows similar expressions of concern by the Rowe, Heath and Hawley planning boards that the proposed Wind Energy Siting Reform Act would 'significantly restrict Massachusetts communities' home rule authority by consolidating and expediting permitting.'

The regional board says that while it appreciates the state's support of renewable energy projects, it is concerned about hampering the ability of towns to direct wind turbines 'to the most appropriate locations and to address the scale and impacts of these facilities.'

A hearing on the proposal in Pittsfield last month drew concerns about overriding home-rule provisions by towns, and the Massachusetts Municipal Association in May wrote, opposing a section of the bill changing the process for appealing local board decisions by having them go to the state Energy Facilities Siting Board rather than to the court.

 

---