Proposed N. Springfield biomass plant draws concern, support

by Stephen Seitz
As a 35-megawatt biomass electric plant proposed for North Springfield inches forward, some in Chester are raising questions about traffic while others are fully supporting the project.
Years may pass before ground is broken: The Public Service Board has yet to issue a certificate authorizing the plant’s construction at the North Springfield Industrial Park, on Precision Drive, and no Act 250 permits for the project have been filed, according to the Southern Windsor County Regional Planning Commission Agency of Natural Resources database.
But co-developers Winstanley Enterprises, a Massachusetts real estate development company, and Weston Solutions, a global environmental consulting firm headquartered in Pennsylvania, are working hard to smooth its path.

According to Winstanley, the proposed wood chip plant, with chips coming mostly from area logging concerns, would provide power to some 25,000 homes, with excess heat used for an underground hot water loop around the industrial park, lowering heating and cooling costs for the park’s tenants. The water loop is expected to lower energy costs for existing tenants, help attract new ones and “make the park a green energy park,” Winstanley partner Adam Winstanley told a public meeting in Springfield on Feb. 23.
That prospect gained early support from Black River Produce co-owner and Chester resident Mark Curran, who, in 2010 wrote that his company would be interested in constructing hot house greenhouses and using that excess heat to grow organic tomatoes.

Truck traffic raised as an issue

There is only one access road to the park, and it reaches from the center of North Springfield to Route 10 just past the town line near the Route 106 intersection. From Chester, log trucks would have to use Route 103 and Route 10.
At the public meeting, Adam Winstanley told those gathered, “… biomass plant … generate(s) cost-effective renewable power. … More than that … Our plant would generate 30 new permanent jobs and 25 indirect jobs” as well as offer lower energy costs and create a “green energy park.”
Winstanley Enterprises already has a building in the park.
Chester Selectman Tom Bock wanted to know how traffic would be affected.
“The biggest concern for Chester citizens is traffic,” Bock said. “We’ve heard 48 trucks a day. That’s one-way trips, correct?”
“I believe that’s return trips as well,” Winstanley replied.
Bock asked how much of an increase in truck traffic to expect in the first five years. Winstanley said plans are to distribute the truck traffic as broadly as possible.
“It looks like most of that traffic is going to come up Route 103 through a primarily residential district,” Bock said, referring to Chester. “That’s what we’re concerned about.”
Winstanley consultant Ben Swanson said the truck traffic would amount to one trip in and one trip out per hour. Winstanley said he didn’t think the traffic increase would be all that noticeable.
“We have 200 trucks a day right now,” he said. “I interviewed everybody in the park. Nobody right now is complaining about the truck traffic at the park. If you look at 1,500 cars plus all the additional truck traffic at the park in its heyday, we’re still way below what the park was at its peak.”
Chester resident John Holme asked about odors from the plant, and was told there wouldn’t be any.

Some nearby Chester residents supportive

The nearest Chester residences to the plant site are on Davidson Hill Road, but residents contacted late last week do not seem overly concerned. Craig Hall said he didn’t know much about the project, but would have some concerns about the increased traffic.
“Route 10 has an awful lot of bicyclists,” he said. “I burn wood myself, so I have no problem with them doing it.”
Gary Johnson said he had no qualms at all with the plant nearby. “I think it could be a good idea,” he said.
According to a 2009 Route 103 management plan commissioned by the state Agency of Transportation, Route 103 south of Chester sees about 6,000 vehicles per day.
“We’re working on some measures to mitigate the truck traffic,” Bock said recently. He is also Chester’s representative to Southern Windsor County Regional Planning Commission. “Traffic will come up before the Public Service Board. Something has to be done.”
The full public meeting is currently on public access Channel 10 in Chester at various times. More documents and testimony about the project can be found at the Southern Windsor County Regional Planning Commission website.

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