Environmental Health and Engineering (EH&E), which was hired by the Town of Billerica to assess the health and safety impacts of the proposed plant, filed their final Air Quality and Health Evaluation Report this week. The report delineates outstanding concerns with the proposed site, raises the issue of the regional impact that the construction and operation would impose, and gives detailed analysis of the air quality modeling used. The report also lays out very clearly the limitations of the analysis, and the substantial number of unknowns about this proposal. It is expected that the report will also be shared with the MA-DEP.

The Massachusetts legislature voted on the Clean Energy Bill, including the amendments being considered, in a conference committee report on clean and renewable energy. These amendments include the amendment by Representative Jim Miceli of Tewksbury/Wilmington which would prohibit the siting of fossil fuel burning power plants within one mile of a residence, licensed day-care center, playground, a school, a church or any area of critical environmental concern.

The measure, similar to earlier amendments put forth by Representative Bill Greene of Billerica and Senator Robert Creedon of Brockton, did not pass this session. While Senator Steven Panagiotakos of Lowell and Senator Fred Berry of Peabody voted against the amendment, the committee did agree that a special commission should be formed to work with Secretary Ian Bowles to examine the criteria currently used to evaluate these power plant proposals.

Finally, but very significantly, the Energy Facilities Siting Board has received a request to re-open the hearings concerning the proposal and further, additional information requests have been issued to Montgomery Energy Billerica Power Partners. No dates have been set for the hearings. Additionally, DG Clean Power filed a Notice of Intent with the Town of Billerica.

Audio from the June 19th EH&E presentation and follow-on BOH and public questions is available at the Web site.