PITTSFIELD, Mass. – The power plant on Merrill Rd. in Pittsfield is a so-called "peaker" plant, only operating at times of peak energy demand.

However, it produces a large amount of emissions according to the Environmental Protection Agency, and local environmentalists are lobbying the state’s Department of Environmental Protection to not renew its operating permit. 

What You Need To Know

  • Environmentalists don’t want the operating permit for Pittsfield’s ‘peaker’ plant renewed
  • The plant is located next to a residential neighborhood and elementary school, causing health concerns
  • Local legislators are willing to help change regulations to force the plant to go green
  • A local environmental non-profit is talking to the plant’s owners to help with the transition to green energy

“They can transition to another business model, and this permit would put them back in business as usual for another five years,” said Rosemary Wessel, program director for No Frack Gas in Mass. “We can’t wait that long.”

There are health concerns surrounding the plant as well. It’s located next to a residential neighborhood and the Allendale Elementary School.

A recent study from the Berkshire Regional Planning Commission found the neighborhood’s life expectancy is ten to twelve years lower than the rest of the city.

“We can’t directly attribute it to the plant, but it just makes sense to try and eliminate as much of the pollution in that area as possible,” said Jane Winn, executive director of the Berkshire Environmental Action Team.

At a public hearing on Tuesday, the D.E.P. said they legally can’t take all this into consideration when considering the permit. State representative Tricia Farley-Bouvier and her Berkshire colleagues want to change that.

“If you are telling us that your hands are tied because of a regulation or provision in the law, then here you have legislators on the call with you that will work with you to change those regulations,” said Bouvier.

The D.E.P. hasn’t decided on whether or not to renew the permit yet, but even if it’s approved, the Berkshire Environmental Action Team is in discussions with the plant’s owners to help them transition to a greener, battery storage-based model.

“They’re really looking at what it will take for them to have revenue coming in for the next ten or twenty years if they transition,” said Winn. “So part of our job is figuring out how we can help them get the information and what legislation we need to help them make this transition.”