By Paul Tuthill
http://stream.publicbroadcasting.net/production/mp3/wamc/local-wamc-970529.mp3
Springfield, MA – The City Council in Springfield Massachusetts voted earlier this week to block construction of a biomass power plant. That is far from the end of it, however, as a lawsuit from the developer is promised. And, the political fallout will extend to the city's race for mayor. WAMC's Pioneer Valley Bureau Chief Paul Tuthill reports.
Springfield City Council President and Mayoral Candidate Jose Tosado called the council's vote historic..
Tosado also took a swipe at Mayor Domenic Sarno, claiming the mayor sat on the sidelines during the debate over the controversial project.
Sarno insists his position on the 150 million dollar 35 megawatt project proposed by Palmer Renewal Energy was always clear. He supported it for the jobs and the boost to the city's tax base, so long as it complied with all state and federal air quality standards..
Tosado, and other councilors, insist the project had changed from what was presented them in 2008 as a recycling facility. Tosado said he is better informed now on the public health threat posed by large scale biomass. He insists his bid for mayor was not a factor in his vote to revoke the special permit he had voted for two and a half years ago.
The third declared mayoral candidate Antonette Pepe says she does not support biomass. She faults what she said were hasty decisions made both in 2008 and earlier this week..
Waited, Pepe says, until the state chimed in on the final air quality permit for the project.
Because of the timing of the council's vote, and the pending litigation that will stall a final resolution, its inevitable the project will be an issue in the mayoral and city council races according to Springfield based political consultant Anthony Cignoli..
Cignoli says the campaign to sway the council on the biomass project saw neighborhood councils and grass roots organizations flex their political muscles in opposition to the project , while organized labor pressed for it..
Cignoli sees echoes from the 1990s when a proposed gas fueled electric generating plant in Agawam was an issue that dominated two mayoral election cycles
Members of the Callahan family who own Palmer Renewable Energy, the biomass developer, have tripled their campaign contributions to municipal and state candidates over the last three years