A Massachusetts court has reinstated the building permit for a controversial wood-burning power plant in Springfield.
The decision by the Massachusetts Land Court overturned the vote by the city’s zoning board of appeals in 2011 to invalidate the building permit for the 35-megawatt power plant proposed by Palmer Renewable Energy. Project opponents have 30 days to appeal the court’s ruling. Michaelann Bewsee of Arise for Social Justice said the wood-burning power plant threatens the public health.
"It is important for the city of Springfield to do everything possible to improve the air quality, not do something that is going to make it worse."
The project was awarded an air permit by the Massachusetts Department of Environmental Protection in 2012
