Proposed Power Plant on Westfield River

[JayW]

A $150 million dollar biomass power plant is being proposed on the Westfield River in Russell Ma. The plant which will generate 50 megawatts of electricity will occupy 18 acres of land. The plant will draw 886,000 gallons of river water each day of which 101,000 gallons will be returned to the Westfield River each day.

Any opinions from other fisherman about this? Personally I enjoy fishing for Trout every year right up there on the Westfield River and this plant could affect the conditions of the river.

[Matt]

It will be interesting to see if this thing gets built. There are many mixed opinions about this topic. Obviosuly there has to be studies done to see if it will affect the wildife in that area.

[Tigersmith]

We will have to hope that it doesnt affect the fish and wildlife in the area.

[fisher16]

I hope that the residents will prevail and stop this project from being developed. Last I heard some of the residents of the town had filed paperwork against the project in court.

[Bill S]

Not going to tell you I know everything about this , far from it, but I don't think this is as bad as many would think.

The plant is going in at an existing industrial site, and I have heard that poeple think they will cut down all the trees. They will be burning scrap/ debris for fueling. This isn't as bad as most think.

The part about , consuming some 700,00 gals of water a day bothers me some , especially in the summer, with levels low, and temps up already, I'll have to check that info closer. The plant is supposed to use existing equipment to pull in the water I believe, I would think that this would also be checked over pretty well by DEP for permitting, so I don't think this is a river/town killer. Bet it will be cleaner than most of the wood burning residents of the town. we used to hear all the moaning out of Agawam, over the Berkshire plant, but it has seemed to blend in without too much problem. Also it will put a relatively inexpensive form of electic generation in our area, where it should help our area, in the long run, not to mention local taxes.
Just my .02:cool:

[JayW]

I agree. When I first found out about the possibilty of this plant being built my first concern after reading about it was the fact that 700,000 gallons of water will be used each day. I cant put that into perspective or even imagine how much water that really is but that could be significant enough to affect things downstream.

[Matt]

They had a meeting the other night at WSC on it. Unfortuantly I could not make it to it as I had previous plans. The recap was in the newspaper. I will find a way to put it up on here so others can read about it.

[fisher16]

I was in B&G's today and they have a petition against the plant being developed or reconstructed what every they want to call it. If anyone likes stop by and sign your name to the petition.

Here's some other info I located I know some of us may know more than others about this proposed plant project. <TABLE cellSpacing=2 cellPadding=2 width=707 border=0><TBODY><TR><TD width=146>
Grantee






</TD><TD width=147>Russell Biomass, LLC</TD><TD vAlign=top width=197>Program




</TD><TD class=style14 width=197>Clean Energy</TD></TR><TR><TD>Project Locations




</TD><TD class=style8>Russell


</TD><TD vAlign=top>Funding Type




</TD><TD class=style14>Predevelopment loan</TD></TR><TR><TD>Project Type




</TD><TD class=style14>Predevelopment</TD><TD>Total Funding Amount




</TD><TD class=style14>$150,000.00</TD></TR><TR><TD vAlign=top rowSpan=2>Renewable Energy




</TD><TD rowSpan=2>Biomass


</TD><TD>Year Awarded







</TD><TD class=style14>2004</TD></TR><TR><TD colSpan=2></TD></TR><TR><TD>Initiative:




</TD><TD>Predevelopment Financing</TD><TD colSpan=2></TD></TR></TBODY></TABLE><TABLE height=228 cellSpacing=2 cellPadding=2 width=706 border=0><TBODY><TR><TD class=style5 colSpan=2 height=18>Project Description </TD></TR><TR><TD class=style14 vAlign=top width=540 height=89>Russell Biomass, LLC is developing a 50-megawatt biomass to energy project at the former Westfield Paper Company site in Russell, Massachusetts. The project will be fired with wood fuel comprised of whole tree wood chips and clean wood waste products. The project will consist of a complete fuel receiving and handling system, a single fluidized bed boiler, a single condensing turbine, a cooling system, and air and water control systems. The project will provide a disposal option for wood waste products that are typically disposed of in landfills. A direct economic benefit of project will be the addition of approximately 20 plant operating jobs. MTC will provide an unsecured loan to partially finance pre-development activities for the biomass project. The pre-development activities include preliminary plant and site design, complete transmission line design, confirm fuel supply, initiate environmental permitting, arrange for additional development financing and community outreach.</TD><TD class=style8 vAlign=top align=middle width=152>







</TD></TR><TR><TD class=style8 vAlign=top height=23></TD><TD class=style8 vAlign=top align=middle></TD></TR><TR><TD vAlign=top height=23>Project Website</TD><TD vAlign=top height=23></TD></TR><TR><TD class=style8 vAlign=top colSpan=2 height=10></TD></TR><TR><TD class=style8 vAlign=top colSpan=2 height=11></TD></TR><TR><TD class=style8 vAlign=top colSpan=2 height=23></TD></TR></TBODY></TABLE><TABLE width=707 border=0><TBODY><TR><TD class=style5 width=241>Contact Information </TD><TD class=style5 width=456>Deliverables</TD></TR><TR><TD class=style14>William Hull</TD><TD class=style8 vAlign=top rowSpan=8>Final Report (PDF)
(http://www.mtpc.org/Project%20Deliverables/GP_FinalReport_Russell.pdf)
(http://www.mtpc.org/Project%20Deliverables/GP_FinalReport_Russell.pdf)

</TD></TR><TR><TD class=style14>Managing Partner</TD></TR><TR><TD class=style14 vAlign=top>(860) 974-0127</TD></TR><TR><TD class=style8 vAlign=top>hull@hullforest.com

Here is another link of interest for people who are against it.
http://www.concernedcitizensofrussell.org/index.php

</TD></TR></TBODY></TABLE>

[Massbowhunter1968]

where is this in western Mass?

[JayW]

Yes right on the Westfield River in Russell Massachusetts

[Massbowhunter1968]

ok thanx buddy.

[RussellAlive]

The water withdrawal is up to 880,000 gallons daily, according to published data from the developers. This maximum usage will be during the hottest weather when the river is lowest and warmest. This withdrawal represents over 17 % of the lowest flow day ever recorded. 100,000 gallons will be returned daily warm and polluted with phosphates and other pollutants. Isn't there a general agreement in the fishing community that this river actually needs MORE water to be healthy and vibrant, not less?

[fisher16]

By russellalive

I would love to see more water in the Westfield River especially during those dog days of summer late july/august. I am totally opposed to the taking of river water to cool off the turbines, and polluting this beatiful river that holds some great trout, smallmouth bass, and other species of fish. Just imagine fish like these could be a thing of the past if something like this is developed on the Westfield River.

This pic was taken when I was a little younger, and If I had caught it today. This fish would have probably been released and a fiberglass mount would have been my choice.

http://ctfisherman.com/data/447Rianbowtroutwfldriver..jpg

[RussellAlive]

Beautiful fish!

[RussellAlive]

WRITE TO CONGRESSMAN OLVER. Many sportsmen are strongly opposed to the Russell Biomass proposal just because of the water withdrawals and river pollution. Westfield River Watershed Association President Kathy Meyer established in her letter to the Massachusetts Environmental Policy Act (MEPA) that if this plant had been operating on the lowest flow day every recorded, it would have taken 17.5% of flow. That is almost one out of every five gallons of water. As this is a very valuable river that people have invested millions of dollars in, we should not allow anyone to damage it.

You can get many more details at www.concernedcitizensofrussell.org (http://www.concernedcitizensofrussell.org)

Now is the time to contact your elected representatives and let them know your view of the Russell Biomass proposal. Our immediate goal is to get 1,000 letters opposing the plant in to Congressman Olver in the next few weeks to clearly demonstrate the widespread opposition to this plant. We hope that a few hundred will be from outdoorsmen. Write to

Congressman John Olver
1111 Longworth HOB
Washington, D.C. 20515

TEL: 202-225-5335
FAX: 202-226-1224

To email Congressman Olver, go to http://www.house.gov/olver/contact/index.html (http://www.house.gov/olver/contact/index.html) and fill out the online form.

[fisher16]

What do you think about this letter? People can add or change parts of the letter to cite more specific items that they feel need attention.

Dear Congressman John Oliver,


I write to you concerning the proposed Russell Biomass plant project.
I feel that allowing this project would drastically change the river and its beautiful scenery. The Westfield River drains about 528 square miles of southwestern Massachusetts. It is one of the most beautiful and pristine of the rivers of southern New England. In the 1990s, 43 miles of the upper Westfield were designated "Wild and Scenic" by the National Park Service - the first such designation in Massachusetts! The river is a major recreational and economic resource for the 27 communities within its drainage basin. The Westfield River is a valuable river and the citizens of the commonwealth have invested millions of dollars. A few examples canoeing, maple sugaring, bicycling, camping, hunting, skiing, county fairs, fishing, fish stocking, and the atlantic salmon restoration project.


I write to urge you to oppose the Russell Biomass plant.

Sincerely,


Name
Address
City, State Zip

Here's a list of Senators and Representatives that have there email attached. If I forgot anyone please post them. All you have to do is copy/paste and then hit send.
<DL><DT>Senators and Representatives Email List</DT><DT> </DT><DT>Becket </DT></DL>Senator Andrea F. Nuciforo, Jr. (http://www.maanglers.com/legis/member/afn0.htm) Andrea.Nuciforo@state.ma.us (Andrea.Nuciforo@state.ma.us)
Representative Denis E. Guyer (http://www.maanglers.com/legis/member/deg1.htm) Rep.DenisGuyer@Hou.State.MA.US (Rep.Rep.DenisGuyer@Hou.State.MA.US)


<DL><DD> </DD><DT>Blandford, Chester,</DT></DL>Senator Michael R. Knapik (http://www.maanglers.com/legis/member/mrk0.htm)Michael.Knapik@state.ma.us (Michael.Knapik@state.ma.us)

<DL><DD></DD></DL>Representative William Smitty Pignatelli (http://www.maanglers.com/legis/member/wsp1.htm) Rep.SmittyPignatelli@hou.state.ma.us (Rep.SmittyPignatelli@hou.state.ma.us)
<DL><DD> </DD><DT>Chesterfield, Huntington</DT></DL>Senator Andrea F. Nuciforo, Jr. (http://www.maanglers.com/legis/member/afn0.htm) Andrea.Nuciforo@state.ma.us (Andrea.Nuciforo@state.ma.us)
<DL><DD></DD></DL>Representative Stephen Kulik (http://www.maanglers.com/legis/member/s_k1.htm)Rep.StephenKulik@hou.state.ma.us (Rep.StephenKulik@hou.state.ma.us)
<DL><DD> </DD><DT>Cummington </DT></DL>Senator Andrea F. Nuciforo, Jr. (http://www.maanglers.com/legis/member/afn0.htm) Andrea.Nuciforo@state.ma.us (Andrea.Nuciforo@state.ma.us)
<DL><DD></DD></DL>Representative Denis E. Guyer (http://www.maanglers.com/legis/member/deg1.htm)Rep.DenisGuyer@Hou.State.MA.US (Rep.Rep.DenisGuyer@Hou.State.MA.US)
<DL><DD> </DD><DT></DT><DT>Montgomery </DT></DL>Senator Michael R. Knapik (http://www.maanglers.com/legis/member/mrk0.htm) Michael.Knapik@state.ma.us (Michael.Knapik@state.ma.us)
<DL><DD></DD></DL>Representative Peter V. Kocot (http://www.maanglers.com/legis/member/pvk1.htm): Rep.PeterKocot@hou.state.ma.us (Rep.PeterKocot@hou.state.ma.us)
<DL><DD></DD><DD> </DD><DT> </DT><DT> </DT><DT>Otis </DT></DL>Senator Andrea F. Nuciforo, Jr. (http://www.maanglers.com/legis/member/afn0.htm) Andrea.Nuciforo@state.ma.us (Andrea.Nuciforo@state.ma.us)
<DL><DD></DD></DL>Representative William Smitty Pignatelli (http://www.maanglers.com/legis/member/wsp1.htm) (Rep.SmittyPignatelli@hou.state.ma.us)Rep.SmittyPignatelli@hou.state.ma.us (Rep.SmittyPignatelli@hou.state.ma.us)
<DL><DD> </DD><DD> </DD><DT> </DT><DT>Russell </DT></DL>Senator Michael R. Knapik (http://www.maanglers.com/legis/member/mrk0.htm) Michael.Knapik@state.ma.us (Michael.Knapik@state.ma.us)

<DL><DD> </DD><DD>Representative Daniel F. Keenan (http://www.maanglers.com/legis/member/dfk1.htm)</DD><DT>West Springfield </DT></DL>Senator Stephen J. Buoniconti (http://www.maanglers.com/legis/member/sjb0.htm) Stephen.Buoniconti@state.ma.us (Stephen.Buoniconti@state.ma.us)

<DL><DD></DD></DL>Representative James T. Welch (http://www.maanglers.com/legis/member/jtw1.htm) Rep.JamesWelch@Hou.State.MA.US (Rep.JamesWelch@Hou.State.MA.US)
<DL><DD> </DD><DT>Westfield </DT></DL>Senator Michael R. Knapik (http://www.maanglers.com/legis/member/mrk0.htm) Michael.Knapik@state.ma.us (Michael.Knapik@state.ma.us)

<DL><DD></DD></DL>Representative Donald F. Humason, Jr. (http://www.maanglers.com/legis/member/dfh1.htm) Rep.DonaldHumason@hou.state.ma.us (Rep.DonaldHumason@hou.state.ma.us)
<DL><DD> </DD><DT>Worthington </DT></DL>Senator Andrea F. Nuciforo, Jr. (http://www.maanglers.com/legis/member/afn0.htm) Andrea.Nuciforo@state.ma.us (Andrea.Nuciforo@state.ma.us)
<DL><DD></DD></DL>Representative Stephen Kulik (http://www.maanglers.com/legis/member/s_k1.htm) Rep.StephenKulik@hou.state.ma.us (Rep.StephenKulik@hou.state.ma.us)
<DL><DD> </DD><DT> </DT></DL>

[JayW]

Sounds good to me. Thanks for expressing your strong concerns for the project.