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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Central Berkshire Picks Insider Henault for Next Superintendent

By Sabrina DammsiBerkshires Staff

Michael Henault is interviewed by the School Committee on Wednesday. 
DALTON, Mass. — The Central Berkshire Regional School Committee didn't go far to find its next superintendent. 
 
The committee voted unanimously on Wednesday to offer the post to Michael Henault, who has been the district's assistant superintendent for three years. 
 
"He is an incredible candidate. It doesn't matter for what district, and I think he is ready, and certainly chomping at the bit to take on the next challenge," said Charlotte Crane, committee member. 
 
"I suspect that we wouldn't be able to hold on again for too much longer in the assistant superintendent position." 
 
The vote came at the end of a four-hour meeting during which Henault and two other finalists — John Franzoni, superintendent of the Northern Berkshire School Union, and Matthew Bishop, interim deputy superintendent for the Pittsfield Public Schools — were interviewed. 
 
The 13 of the 15 committee members representing the seven towns in the district agreed that it was a difficult decision because of the quality of the candidates. 
 
"I'm extremely torn right now," said Ellen Lattizzori of Dalton. 
 
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