Power Plant Proposed for Billerica

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There is a very large power plant that has been proposed for Billerica. At 348 Megawatt, the plant would be Massachusetts’ 13th largest of 154 power plants according to the Department of Environmental Resources. The power plant is designed to run on natural gas, with diesel as a backup.

High-Level Concerns

Based entirely on publicly available information including the Draft Environmental Impact Report dated September 11th, 2007 and health-related data from the American Lung Association, we believe there will be a significant health impact to those living within five miles of the Billerica power plant. This is due to the air pollution generated by the power plant’s six 80-foot stacks. There are also several real safety issues, each of which has different consequences depending on where you live relative to the power plant location in Billerica..

Power Plant Location

The proposed location is referred to as 134 Billerica Ave. Billerica, MA. See map here on Google Maps. If you are familiar with the northwest corner of Tewksbury, you will recognize this as Woburn St off 495. The power plant would be located beside Jack’s Auto Parts on a 30-acre site (the whole available area is much larger). This is on the right as you drive toward the North Billerica commuter rail station.  Pages 55, 58, and 158 of the DEIR document provide a good sense of the site alongside the Concord River and very near many residences in Tewksbury, Billerica, Chelmsford and Lowell.

Traffic to and from the power plant will come off Exit 37, Woburn St, from 495, then travel through Tewksbury on Woburn St., into Billerica on Billerica Ave. and then turn right at the Baker Commodities entrance. The plant would be located on Billerica land leased from Baker Commodities.

The site is particularly attractive for the developer because of the nearness of water, natural gas, and the power lines.

Power Company

The power plant company is Montgomery Energy Billerica Power Partners, LLP. Montgomery Energy is based in Magnolia, TX and has an office Burlington, CT. MEBPP is working with DG Clean Power, LLC of Thornton, NH. The stated role of DGCP is to aid in the licensing and permitting process.

The Billerica power plant itself is currently being permitted for 2300 hours of operation per year, 2100 on natural gas, 200 on diesel. This equates to an average of 6.3 hours of operation per day, every day. The plant will be unmanned, and is designed to be brought online, remotely, at times of peak demand by ISO New England.

Power Plant Status

The power company is well into the permitting process with the Energy Facilities Siting Board (EFSB), which is a division of the Massachusetts Department of Public Utilities. The evidentiary hearing phase is over, and briefs and rebuttal briefs have been filed. Unless something significant changes with respect to the power plant design as a consequence of the EFSB’s review, there could be a ruling from the EFSB in 60-90 days from the January 18th filings of rebuttal briefs.

The power company must also seek permits and variances from the Town of Billerica, including specifically the Board of Health, the Board of Appeals, the Conservation Commission, and the Planning Board.

Overall Strategy

The fundamental strategy that our group of concerned citizens is adopting is to ensure that no power plant is built that would materially affect the health, safety, and quality of life for those that would be affected by its presence, now or in the future. In practical terms this means we are opposing the plant as currently proposed.

We are working to raise awareness about this issue in neighboring communities (since the power company didn’t) and to drive the opposition movement forward. A very large fossil fuel power plant does not belong in a densely populated area like North Billerica.  In fact, a number of Massachusetts senators and representatives are working on amendments to an energy-related bill to prevent exactly this scenario.  

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Questions / Comments: info@billericapowerplant.org