POWER PLANT INFO
10/30/08
N E W S f r o m B i l l e r i c a Po w e r P l a n t . O r g
hPlease share with your friends, family, and neighbors.
www.BillericaPowerPlant.org
27 October 2008
The hearings at the Energy Facilities Siting Board continued last week concerning
the proposed plant in North Billerica. Consultants for the developer presented
information about the proposal and responded to pointed questions from the Siting
Board. Noise impacts and mitigation, and water transport were among the topics
discussed. No decision has been reached by the EFSB and there may be additional
hearings as the board seeks answers to its many concerns about the proposal.
For those keeping track of the other power plant proposals around the state, Walpole residents
learned this week that the developer of their proposed plant pulled out. Under public pressure and
with an overwhelming vote by the town for a zoning bylaw change, CPV announced it would not at-
tempt to “shove this project down residents’ throats”. Congratulations to Walpole and let’s hope our
officials follow their good example. Click here to read the article.
The proposal for the Brockton plant has also hit a snag. Brockton’s Conservation Commission has
denied permits the proposed plant would need to be constructed. The proposal for the Brockton
plant is currently being considered by the EFSB, similar to Billerica.Click here to read the story.
At the Federal level, the Environmental Protection Agency is to decide this week whether to adopt a
rule that would allow existing power plant emissions to remain at their current levels and not be re-
quired to comply with stricter standards in the future. Click here to read the article.
Please e-mail Representative Ed Markey and express your concerns regardless of your district.
Mr. Markey is the Chair of the new Select Committee on Energy Independence and Global Warming.
We suggest asking him to oppose the proposed rule.

Politically Incorrect with Tom Christiano hosted a debate between Chelmsford
State Representative Cory Atkins and Candidate Richard McClure. Both candidates
expressed concern with the proposed power plant, and recognized that constituents
have expressed many concerns with the proposal. Click here to view the segment.
(For the whole debate Click here)
For here
Meetings/Events
Wednesday, November 12, 2008 7:00PM Billerica Conservation Commission
The Billerica Conservation Commission will continue its discussion of the Notice of Intent filed by the
developer and the review of the wetlands and stormwater management issues. Billerica Town Hall,
365 Boston Road, Billerica, MA
Press
Click on the News tab to access recent articles.
****************************************************************************
****************************************************************************
****************************************************************************
Power Plant Update
Proponents and Opponents Weight In
Tewksbury Town Crier 10/23/2008
By Jayne W. Miller
TEWKSBURY – Two groups are lobbying for support against a power plant
proposed in Tewksbury's backyard, prompting deep concern about air
and water quality, traffic, risks to first responders, and carbon
emissions. The developer of the plant, DG CleanPower, LLC, continues
to move forward with federal, state and local processes that
ultimately lead to siting, permits, and eventually opening.
DG CleanPower, LLC, together with Montgomery Energy Billerica Power
Partners LP, proposed a 348 Megawatt \"peaking\" power plant for a site
in North Billerica near Baker Commodities and Jack's Auto Parts, just
over the Tewksbury town line. Entrance to the plant will actually be
in Tewksbury. At 348 MW the plant would be the 13th largest power
plant in Massachusetts. As a peaking power plant it will operate
during periods of high electricity demand, typically winter cold
snaps and hot summer days and on average 1,500 hours per year up to a
maximum 2300 hours per year. The plant, should it pass the hurdles
before it, will use natural gas to power the facility, with up to 200
hours of ultra low sulfur diesel operation during periods of peak
natural gas demand.
Two groups, the Billerica Watchers Group (BWG) and
BillericaPowerPlant.org, were born out of opposition to the power
plant proposal, and both seek the same goal, to stop the project.

Billerica Watchers began as a group of Billerica residents that
organized early on in the process and is the only group that has
legal \"intervener\" status with the state Energy Facilities Siting
Board (EFSB) process. Over the course of the project thus far, BWG
has added to its ranks with members from other towns, including Karyn
Sliva from Tewksbury, and played a prominent role during hearings,
succeeding in substantially slowing down the permitting process.
Joseph Fitzpatrick, President and CEO of DG CleanPower, credits BWG
with slowing down the process primarily at the state level. The EFSB
process can take an indeterminate duration. The next hearing is
slated for this Thursday at 10 am at EFSB offices in South Station.
\"We're going forward. We've made a couple of updates and changes, for
example we've reduced emissions on the plant in response to concerns
raised by BWG,\" Fitzpatrick told the Crier, describing plans for the
plant. \"It's obviously impacted the schedule; we are certainly not
ready for 2009, and now are slipping into 2010-2011 time frame.\"
Fitzpatrick says that delayed action at the state level slows things
down at the local level in as much as local officials like to know
what the state wants and where the state stands on the project. But
he lauds the EFSB and the thoroughness in recent weeks, saying, \"\"I
think the state is doing everything it can to make it clear that due
process is a big issue with them.\"
At the last EFSB hearing the board allowed parties without intervener
status, such as State Senators and Representatives and other
interested parties, to speak on the record before the board. Because
BWG is the only group with legal intervener status, it plans to
incorporate those comments into the official record as part of its
Response Brief one the EFSB makes its decision.
As to delaying the process, its clear that Billerica Watchers is
raising many doubts through the process. In a written statement to
the Crier BWG writes, \"It is also apparent that the EFSB is no longer
considering the verbal, unsubstantiated statements from DG Power
[sic] as fact… Our group's patience and diligence seem to be coming
full circle as at the conclusion of the last hearing DG Power was
instructed to provide proof of the assertions they were making to the
EFSB relating to safety and that the Board was not interested in
merely their opinion.\"
Going forward, if the EFSB approves the project, BWG wants to create
a combined effort with all local boards to \"take full advantage of
the power granted to the Billerica Watchers, representing 22
interveners from Tewksbury, Billerica and Pepperell, to hold DG Power
accountable for every unsubstantiated assurance they have made which
are unenforceable. Our goal and the goals of all neighboring boards
is to protect the \"quality of life\" for all the residents of the
Merrimack Valley.\" BillericaPowerPlant.org (BPP) began as the

brainchild of Paige and Victor Impink, Tewksbury residents that
learned about the project by accident. As residents living near the
town line with Billerica, Paige often takes her children to the
Billerica library and it was there she first encountered notices
about the proposed power plant. Today BillericaPowerPlant.org focuses
primarily on outreach and education about the project throughout
communities neighboring Billerica.
The group has held very well attended information sessions in
Tewksbury, Wilmington, Andover, Chelmsford and Lowell, increasing
resident awareness and potential impacts to each community. State and
local elected officials often attend the meetings, which lately have
been broadcast on community cable access channels to reach an even
wider audience. Further, and perhaps even more successful, the BPP
offers a subscription email service reaching a \"very large audience,
and growing.\"
Though Paige Impink declines to release the specific number of
persons reached through the email, she will say that her audience is
throughout the Merrimack Valley and beyond. BPP does not have
intervener status and recognizes the technical and legal work the BWG
is doing through the various federal, state, and local processes.
\"There's room for everybody here,\" said Impink. \"Everybody has the
right to oppose this project, if that is their inclination, in
whatever manner they see fit.\"
Moreover, Impink sees room for major reform within the siting and
permitting of power plants in today's world.
\"The process is broken,\" said Impink. \"A power plant should not be in
a densely populated area, only hundreds of feet from homes, with the
developer only required to notify people in a half mile radius when
the impacts go far beyond that. How is it even allowed to waste a
single taxpayer dollar on the consideration of siting a power plant
that close to people?\"
Impink also points out that a mere week is required from the date of
notice until the date of comment is closed, and that information is
only required to be posted at the local library and in the paper in
that town. Impink, as a resident of Tewksbury, naturally does not
read the Billerica paper. The criteria for the decision are also
managed in silos so that the total impact is not measured together.
Impink raised the issue of increased truck traffic in the region due
to the proposed plant, an area that other local officials and town
boards have expressed concern from the construction process through
to day-to-day operation. While Impink cites a 500 trucks per day
figure during construction, which would drop to upwards of 38 per day
during operation, Fitzpatrick says that his company is on the record
with no more than 20 trucks a day, maximum, and only in extreme
situations of when water is scarce or if the plant has to use diesel
fuel.

Both groups also make inherency arguments against the power plant,
that the power is not needed anyway with a declining population in
Massachusetts.
ISO-New England, is an independent, non-profit organization that
manages New England's power grid (more than 350 generating plants and
more than 8,000 miles of high-voltage power lines) on a minute-by-
minute basis to ensure there are enough resources to meet the demand
for electricity, and that the power flows to where it is needed when
it is needed.
\"It is a role somewhat like that of an air traffic controller,\" wrote
ISP New England spokesperson Marcia Blomberg in a written response to
Crier questions. \"ISO New England also plans for the region's future
needs and oversees the wholesale competitive markets for
electricity.\" ISO New England expects peak demand for electricity in
increase by an average annual growth rate of 1.2 percent per year
between now and 2017, or just less than 400 MW per year. The forecast
for average annual growth is 0.8 percent.
Blomberg added that peak demand in New England typically occurs in
summer during daylight hours when the weather is hot and humid.
Demand for electricity continues to rise, even though the growth rate
has slowed down, is driven not only by population in the six New
England states, but also by increasing use of air conditioning,
computers, plasma televisions, and other consumer electronics.
Blomberg did not directly respond to the claim made that the
Billerica Energy Center will likely run at night once every ten years
or that older, dirtier plants would be taken off line when this
cleaner power generating facility turned on, as ISO New England does
not directly control the power plants. She did state that, \"demand
for electricity is usually highest during the day. Also, electricity
cannot be stored – it must be generated in the moment it is needed.\"
Additionally, it is clear that market forces can dictate which power
plants will be in demand, if newer plants can generate the power
cheaper, since \"fuel costs make up 85 percent of the wholesale cost
of electricity.\"
To that end, it is interesting to note that, according to ISO New
England, in May 2008, the average price of Natural Gas, the fuel
proposed for the Billerica Energy Center was $11.98 per Million
British Thermal units, which oil was $14.40/Mmbtu and diesel a
whopping $26.80/Mmbtu.
For more information check out BillericaowerPlant.org,
dgcleanpower.com, and stopthebillericapowerplant.org (Billerica
Watchers Group).

InTown
News
AGGREGATE applies the jake brakes
to expansion project
*******************************************************
Asphalt maker puts Chelmsford storage-expansion plan on hold
By Rita Savard, rsavard@lowellsun.com
10/24/2008
CHELMSFORD -- A tug-of-war between Aggregate Industries Inc. and
abutters over whether the asphalt manufacturer should be allowed to
store more hazardous materials at its Oak Street plant has ended -- for
now.
Representatives for Aggregate announced late yesterday afternoon that
they are withdrawing their request to increase storage because of the
sputtering economy.
\"While we acknowledge that much time and effort has been exhausted
throughout the ongoing public hearing and approval process, the cur -
rent economic conditions have forced us to re-evaluate all active capital
expenditure projects,\" Aggregate Vice President Robert Andersson
wrote in a letter to Town Manager Paul Cohen.
Members of the citizens' action group CASE (Chelmsford Advocates for
a Safe Environment), which has been fighting an expansion at Aggre -
gate, rejoiced at the news.

\"Wow! This means they won't be cranking up production and that's
great,\" said Denise Sorese, a resident of the adjacent mobile-home park.
\"But there are still concerns that need to be addressed. There is some -
thing in the air. We can smell it and see it on our homes.\"
CASE, which qualified for free legal representation through the Boston-
based nonprofit agency Alternatives for Community and Environment,
alleges that chemicals emitting from Aggregate's smokestack have been
causing illnesses, including cancer, and have been covering homes and
businesses with a mysterious black soot.
Aggregate say allegations made by CASE are completely false, and that
there is no evidence to back up the group's claims.
The Board of Selectmen required Aggregate to test the air quality near
the plant's 57-foot smokestack. According to a series of tests conducted
by the Canton-based CK Environmental Inc. last month, Aggregate is op -
erating in compliance with state environmental laws.
Overall, scientist and environmental consultant Laura Green, of Cam -
bridge Environmental Inc., said the air-quality tests show Aggregate's
emissions are four to five times cleaner than average for companies in
its class.
But CASE doesn't believe it.
Sorese said the group was meeting last night to talk about hiring its
own independent environmental engineer to test air quality at the plant.
The Saugus-based construction-material supplier was seeking a license
to install new storage tanks at the Chelmsford site, and replace the five
existing tanks with seven new units. Some of the tanks hold liquid as -
phalt, while others are used to store emulsion, heating oil, or refined-
specification oil, which is a product derived from waste oil.
The new tanks would more than double the capacity of the company's
20-year-old tank, from 70,000 gallons to 170,000 gallons.
Even though Aggregate has vowed not to increase productivity, resi -
dents were skeptical, saying more storage will ultimately result in more
production.
Aggregate Production Manager Jeff Ciampa said by replacing all of the

company's existing horizontal tanks with vertical storage units that use
less energy and have more insulation, the Chelmsford site would have
become cleaner, safer and more environmentally friendly.
\"It was a good project for the Chelmsford plant,\" said Tim Jones, Aggre -
gate's environmental permitting specialist. \"We're not closing the door
on the project forever. We will revisit it when economic conditions im -
prove.\"
In April, Aggregate was fined $587,000 by the Department of Environ -
mental Protection and ordered to step up compliance with environmen -
tal laws to settle Clean Air Act violations alleged at 10 of its 28 facilities
in Massachusetts. The alleged violations included, in 2005, burning
waste oil with more sulfur than was allowed under its air-pollution-con -
trol permit.
Since then, the company said it has taken aggressive action to comply
with all of the state's environmental requirements. The recent air-quality
test at the Chelmsford plant is proof of due diligence, Ciampa has said.
Cohen said selectmen most likely wouldn't have taken a vote on the
issue, which was scheduled as a public hearing on Monday's meeting
agenda. Town officials were still waiting on a review from the DEP re -
garding emissions testing at Aggregate.
\"It didn't come as a total surprise,\" Cohen said. \"With the slowdown in
the economy, and scaled-back funding from the state, there's not much
private work going on.\"
Comments on Aggregate at October 27th
Board of Selectmen’s meeting
CLICK HERE for VIDEO LINK

Chelmsford and the 40B Law
From Tom Christiano’s Politically Incorrect TV show
October 28th
Tom talks with “40B” consultant Fred Marcks on the
current status of the law along with efforts of grass
roots groups like “Slow Growth Initiative” to get support
to reform or repeal 40B.
Tom also talks with Mike Jennings who lives across the
street from the proposed Boston Road 40B development
CLICK HERE for VIDEO LIN K
Watch the whole show now Playing on Channel 8 at the following times:
Tues & Weds 8:30 PM; Thurs 7:00 AM; Sundays 11:00 AM
OCT 28th - NOV 9th on the Politically Incorrect
The following was sent out by Chelmsford’s Slow Growth
Initiative in the mail last week concerning the costs of
40B projects to the town

How 40B Costs Chelmsford Taxpayers
Chelmsford has more 40B developments than any of the 141 communities in Greater Boston
Chelmsford is no more affordable now than it ever has been despite record numbers of 40B developments.
Below is a calculation of the cost of 40B construction to Chelmsford taxpayers in excess of what the town
collects for residential taxes and fees over a decade.
Each 40B Unit Costs Taxpayers
40B Units in Chelmsford Total Cost to Chelmsford
$30k-$50k
$35,400,000.00
885 units X $40,000 =
The Department of Housing & Community Development (DHCD), the agency that manages 40B, is supposed to
limit 40B developments to 8 units per acre. Because developers profit by regularly building at much greater
densities, the DHCD just increased the density limit from 8 units to 44 units per acre! Developers will now be
allowed to build projects in Chelmsford with as many as 44 units/acre and they will. In fact, predatory
developers are already rushing to take advantage of the new “guidelines.”
Here’s how bad it is going to get: The state is telling Chelmsford that for us to even try to become “10%
affordable” according to 40B, developers will need to build in excess of 3,235 new units! There are no
guarantees that by doing this that we’ll even hit 10%, just like there are no guarantees that they won’t change the
rules on us again, but if we accept what they are telling us at face value, it will cost you the following:
New 40B Units Planned Cost Per Unit To Taxpayers Total Cost to Chelmsford
$129,400,000.00
3,235 units X $40,000 =
It’s time to stop the insanity. In addition to the unsustainable costs imposed by 40B, don’t forget:
Chelmsford already has many more homes than the maximum desirable build-out scenario
recommended in our Master Plan.
75%-80% of each 40B project for our town consists of expensive and unnecessary market-priced housing
with the bare minimum required number of affordable units. This practice virtually guarantees constant
new development.
Town officials must exercise every available option to protect us from these financial burdens. It is
unnecessary to forfeit control over our community to the state and its friends in the development
industry while allowing unnecessary growth that fuels higher taxes and burdens town services.
To protect our best interest, we must require local officials to assert themselves against the state. Chelmsford
taxpayers had the good sense last year to provide policy guidance to local boards via our Slow Growth Petition.
Our plan demands three affordable units for every market-rate unit in 40B projects – a very sensible proposal.
Unless town officials hear from more residents, they will continue to ignore us and endanger the fiscal health of
Chelmsford.
Call our Community Development Office right away at 978-250-5247. Demand that Chelmsford enforce normal
zoning for market-priced homes and only give excess density for affordable units. If you don’t, the town will be
allowing the developer of the most recent 40B project to stroll to the bank with a $7.6 Million profit at your expense.

TOWN HAPPENINGS!
Let’s talk Turkey
Second Annual Walk
(and Talk) Turkey
Day Before
Thanksgiving Walk
in
Thanksgiving Forest.
The Godfather of Chelmsford ;-) has \"an offer you can't
refuse\".....He hopes to see you, and your family (including your
dogs) at this special day before Thanksgiving event on Wednesday,
November 26th, at 2:00 PM at the Janet Road entrance to
Thanksgiving Forest in Chelmsford. A shorter walk will leave from
the Gary Road entrance to the forest at 2:30 PM.

Guest speaker Becky Warren(Chelmsford Land Conservation Trust and Chelmsford
Historical Society) will be back this year to \"talk turkey\" about Thanksgiving
Forest, Chelmsford's past and some of the town's little known traditions.
Refreshments will be provided by Jones Farm alongside a campfire at the
rock outcropping.
The walk is about a mile on some fairly flat paths.
Last year we had about 200 people there and they all seemed to
enjoy this Holiday kickoff party.
The Godfather
will be there to give you his
Thanksgiving \"blessing.\" 8-)
Tom Christiano
AKA:

D O N ’ T F O R G E T T O V OT E
TUESDAY NOVEMBER 4th
Like your really going to forget ;)