Power Plant Proposed for Billerica

A very large power plant has been proposed for Billerica. At 348 Megawatts, 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, an independent Air Quality and Health Evaluation Report prepared by Environmental Health and Engineering, Inc. dated June 24th, 2008, and health-related data from the American Lung Association, we believe there will be health impacts 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 concerns with potential contamination of the drinking water supply. 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 16-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 Lowell and Tewksbury on Woburn St., and then turn right at the Baker Commodities entrance (never accessing a road in Biilerica). The plant would be located on Billerica land leased from Baker Commodities.

The site is particularly desirable 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 DG Clean Power is to aid in the licensing and permitting process.  The financial entity behind both shell entities is Navasota Energy, of Magnolia, TX.  

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 state-level Energy Facilities Siting Board (EFSB) has rendered its Decision to site the Billerica power plant.  However, in May 2009, the developer withdrew the two Notices of Intent for the plant from the Billerica Conservation Commission. The developer claims they will re-submit in Fall 2009.   

Should the developer re-file, they will still need to seek permits and variances from boards and commissions within the Town of Billerica, including specifically the Conservation Commission, the Planning Board, and the Zoning Board of Appeals.  

Overall Strategy

The fundamental strategy that our neighbor-based opposition effort has adopted 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, no matter how desirable the location is from the developer's perspective.  

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Questions / Comments: info@billericapowerplant.org