Hearing Set Wednesday on Wind Power Siting Reform

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HANCOCK, Mass. — The Legislature's Joint Committee on Telecommunications, Utilities and Energy is holding daylong hearing on Wednesday, Sept. 7, on bills related to wind energy and wind-energy siting.

The first of two regional hearings will run from 10 to 4 at JJ's Lodge at Jiminy Peak Mountain Resort, 37 Corey Road. Any member of the public is invited to attend the hearing or address the committee to register their thoughts and position on the bills.

The second hearing will be Monday, Sept. 26, at the Tilden Arts Center at Cape Cod Community College.

The comprehensive wind siting reform would streamline permitting and reduce the number of regulatory hoops energy companies must jump through and greatly decrease abuttors and interested groups' ability to challenge the development of wind farms.

Opponents say a comprehensive bill will derail local control by giving too much authority to the state and too little to challengers. Siting reform advocates say the result will be more local control since communities will have greater authority over permitting — and the ability to more effectively remove obstacles.

The Berkshires are considered to have the greatest potential for mountain siting of wind farms.

The committee's co-chairmen, Sen. Benjamin B. Downing, D-Pittsfield, and Rep. John D. Keenan, D-Salem, will convene the hearing.

Wind Energy Bills
Land siting reform
H. 1775
H. 1759
S. 1666

Related bills
H. 1756
H. 1757
H. 2620
S. 1695

Primer on siting reform
Also expected to be in attendance are members of Wind Wise Massachusetts, which objected to the timing and location of the hearing. In a letter to the committee chairmen, the group noted that the day hearing during the first week of school and that holding it at "a private facility in a remote location not served by public transportation" would preclude many people from attending.

In their response, the chairmen said the timing was not unusual and followed normal weekday schedule for hearings. It was more unusual for the hearings to be held in those areas like to be most affected by the bill, rather than in Boston, they wrote.

"We specifically shose a location outside of Pittsfield as the city will most likely not be impacted by the implementation of many bills," the committee's letter states.

Read both letters here, on the Wind Wise website.

Hancock is home to two wind power sites: Zephyr, the turbine powering Jiminy Peak Ski Resort, and the $65 million Berkshire Wind Power Project atop Brodie Mountain. Both projects are on private land.

The bills included in the hearings are House bills 1775 and 1759 and Senate bill 1666 related to siting reform for land-based projects and bills H. 1756, H. 1757, H. 2620 and S. 1695, related to other wind legislation.

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Habitat For Humanity Modular Homes Coming to Robbins Ave.

By Brittany PolitoiBerkshires Staff

The homes will be available for residents earning between 55 and 65 percent of the area median income. 

PITTSFIELD, Mass. — The first of two below-market modular homes arrived on the West Side on Thursday, and both are expected to be move-in ready this summer.

The other is expected next week.

Central Berkshire Habitat for Humanity is building two below-market condominiums at 112 Robbins Ave. for families earning between 55 percent and 65 percent of the area median income. Monthly costs for the three- and four-bedroom units are expected to be less than $1,500 with Habitat's subsidies.

Modulars allow for quicker construction to get more families into quality, affordable housing.

"Just because we have such an aggressive schedule this year, we are doing many modulars in addition to the stick-built that we usually do," communications manager Erin O'Brien explained.

Just this year, the nonprofit is constructing five homes in Pittsfield and 10 in Housatonic.

The two homes at 112 Robbins Ave. will come to $148,000 for a three-bedroom with the 20 percent subsidy and $156,000 for a four-bedroom. Similar homes in the Pittsfield area are valued between $225,000 and $250,000.

While prices are subject to change, the three-bedroom condo will cost owners about $1,430 per month and the four bedroom $1,495 per month, compared to renting in the city for more than $1,800 per month. Habitat noted that this provides a potential annual savings of $4,500 to $6,000, while building equity and long-term financial security.

The eligibility range between 55 percent and 65 percent AMI is said to support families who earn too much for most housing subsidies but still struggle to afford market-rate homes.

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