MRWC has long taken a proactive approach to protecting water quality and promoting a stewardship ethic that encourages local residents to be involved in watershed protection. Our main programmatic activities have traditionally focused on volunteer water monitoring, education and promoting river recreation via Blue Trails. MRWC also maintains a commitment to advocacy on behalf of individuals or community groups that bring issues to our attention. To that end, since 2016 MRWC has fought for an environmentally and economically sustainable alternative to the proposed expansion of Gardner’s sludge landfill–please see our website page dedicated to the sludge landfill campaign.
Large-scale Battery Energy Storage System proposed for Wendell — And: the challenge of siting large energy projects in our towns
Since the beginning of 2024 MRWC has become increasingly engaged in the campaign, originating in Wendell, to oppose the siting of a 105 megawatt battery energy storage facility (BESS) by New Leaf Energy at 68 Wendell Depot Road. That proposal has been under review by various local and state bodies for some time, and in the fall of 2023 the local group No Assault and Batteries was formed to organize resistance to the proposed project.
On March 27th, a Community Forum on the Wendell BESS project and the local challenges of siting large energy projects was held at the Millers River Environmental Center. Around 50 people from many towns in the region attended the event, which was sponsored by North Quabbin Energy, the Millers River Watershed Council and others. A Resource List for BESS, clean energy, project siting, and the MA Climate Plan was compiled as a handout and is presented below. (Special thanks to Pat Larson of NQE for compiling the Resource List.)
NOTE: For additional information and to participate in future campaign activities addressing the BESS project and/or the impacts of siting large energy projects in our region (and across the Commonwealth), contact the appropriate people/organizations listed below.
MARCH 27 VIDEO RECORDING
Here are two links to choose from:
VOD:
https://reflect-vod-athol.cablecast.tv/CablecastPublicSite/show/9929?site=1
dropbox:
Resource List
Speakers and Organizations:
North Quabbin Energy: Pat Larson – plarson343@gmail.com
Millers River Watershed Council: https://millerswatershed.org/ Ivan Ussach – Director; council@millersriver.net
No Assault and Batteries in Wendell: https://nabunited.org/ -Anna Gyorgy – member of NAB in Wendell (See postings on latest information and other background info.)
Local Power: https://localpower.com/ — Paul Fenn, President of Local Power (Creators of Community Choice Aggregation and Green Bonds. We are now helping US cities, towns and counties implement Local Power’s new CCA 3.0 program design for a “Local Green New Deal.”)
MA State Information and Resources:
Clean Energy and Climate Plan (Roadmap for – 2030).
https://www.mass.gov/info-details/massachusetts-clean-energy-and-climate-plan-for-2025-and-2030
You can also link to the executive summary at https://www.mass.gov/doc/clean-energy-and-climate-plan-for-2025-and-2030/download
Report on Battery Storage – MA Department of Energy Resources (Dec. 31, 2023) – https://www.mass.gov/doc/charging-forward-energy-storage-in-a-net-zero-commonwealth-report/download
MA SMART Program (Solar Mass Renewable Target) – This program is currently being evaluated by the state. You can get information about the current SMART regulations, etc. at https://www.mass.gov/info-details/solar-massachusetts-renewable-target-smart-program
Commission on Energy Infrastructure Siting and Permitting – This commission was formed by Governor Healey. The Commission’s final recommendations should be out after March 31, 2024. Watch for information about the Commission’s recommendations and where their recommendations go next. https://www.mass.gov/info-details/commission-on-energy-infrastructure-siting-and-permitting
Mass Clean Energy Center — https://www.masscec.com/program/advancing-commonwealth-energy-storage-aces A project at UMass Amherst for battery storage that received funding in 2017 — https://ag.umass.edu/clean-energy/current-initiatives/energy-storage/umass-amherst-energy-storage-project
A Bill currently in the State Legislature and supported by many. Watch for more information as things move along during this session.
Senate Bill – S. 1319 – https://malegislature.gov/Bills/193/S1319
Section 3 of Chapter 40A of the General Laws is hereby amended by striking the following
language: “No zoning ordinance or by-law shall prohibit or unreasonably regulate the installation of solar energy systems or the building of structures that facilitate the collection of solar energy, except where necessary to protect the public health, safety or welfare.”
Joint Committee on Telecommunication, Utilities and Energy https://malegislature.gov/Committees/Detail/J37
There are no hearings scheduled yet, but this is a joint committee to keep track of as energy-related bills move forward in this session of the MA Legislature.
Stand Alone Battery Storage – Possible alternatives to Lithium-Ion:
Form Energy and Battery Storage
https://www.wesa.fm/environment-energy/2024-02-19/weirton-form-energy-battery-manufacturing#new_tab. NOVA Program – Chasing Carbon Zero (discusses battery storage) https://www.pbs.org/wgbh/nova/article/iron-air-battery-renewable-grid/
Form Energy (Somerville, MA) – Multi-Day storage, the pathway to a clean, reliable and secure grid – Iron-Air Technology for Batteries (Feb. 24, 2024) with opening of manufacturing plant in Weiton, West VA to produce batteries. https://formenergy.com/technology/battery-technology/
Reports, News and other information:
MA Audubon and Harvard Forest Study released in October, 2023 — https://storymaps.arcgis.com/stories/932be293f1af43c8b776fdad24d9f071 — A research project completed by MA Audubon (Michelle Manion) and Harvard Forest (Jonathan Thompson).
You can also read executive summary and key recommendations at https://www.massaudubon.org/our-work/publications-resources/growing-solar-protecting-nature
Montague Reporter Article on March 5, 2024 on Presentation by Michelle Manion and Jonathan Thompson at Harvard Forest —https://montaguereporter.org/wp-content/uploads/2024/03/March-7-2024.pdf
Virtual Power Plants:
https://nextcity.org/urbanist-news/puerto-rico-using-home-batteries-to-back-up-grid-virtual-power-plant Puerto Rico Is Using Residents’ Home Batteries To Back Up Its Grid. The yearlong pilot could be the first step in creating a residential-storage virtual power plant larger than any in North America. Gabriela Aoun Angueira | Grist January 19, 2024
Home Batteries in Vermont and other states used with power grid https://www.governing.com/infrastructure/virtual-power-plants-are-coming-to-save-the-grid
Green Mountain Power in VT –
National Grid Power – Connected Solutions Battery Program — https://www.nationalgridus.com/MA-Home/Connected-Solutions/BatteryProgram
Towns in MA – Battery Storage and Decarbonization work….:
Athol Decarbonization Plan – https://www.athol-ma.gov/sites/g/files/vyhlif2741/f/uploads/town_of_athol_municipal_decarbonization_06_1_22.pdf
Amherst Stand-alone Battery Array Approved — https://www.gazettenet.com/Battery-storage-facility-in-Amherst-gets-Conservation-Commission-approval-49583158
West Springfield Battery Storage at former coal/gas Plant — https://www.masslive.com/news/2023/09/mothballed-west-springfield-plant-eyed-for-70m-battery-storage-system-to-meet-peak-power-demand.html
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- The Millers River Blue Trail Project brings together recreation and education to help local residents and visitors get the most out of our first-class local rivers. Local residents also have the opportunity to engage in various stewardship opportunities to protect and enhance the quality of the rivers.
- The Bacteria Monitoring Program on the Millers and Otter Rivers is an example of volunteer stewardship in the watershed. Community members were trained to collect samples of river water at strategic locations. Analysis of the collected samples indicates the quality of the water in terms of the presence of bacteria.
- The Stormwater Pollution Reduction Project is a joint project of MRWC and the Montachusett Regionial Planning Commission (MRPC), that is providing technical support and training to 10 municipalities in the Worcester County portion of the Millers Watershed.
Millers River Watershed Council 