– BCNS/Sudi Smoller – I agree with Commissioner Lazares. We are only trying to get more information. Can’t you see how you come across as being untransparent? Because, when we ask you things, you don’t tell us. And, that has long been the history of our relationship….I’m thrilled that we are involved in the battery project. I feel like you haven’t told anyone about it. The fact that it is one out of 14 communities.…Where exactly is it going? How will it impact Peabody? We haven’t heard any of that. And people want to hear that. And, when you say, send me an email and I’ll email you back, people don’t hear that.

– Commissioner Thomas D’Amato – At the risk of extending this, I get your point. This a cultural change….

-Audience Member – We can’t hear you. Use your microphone.

(D’Amato turns on his microphone and the sound in the room improves, but not on video, because the mics are not connected to the mixer.)

– D’Amato – It’s become a cultural thing. I used to remark that we liked to fly under the radar, great service…(inaudible)… You want us to be more public or higher profile. I don’t know if that can happen overnight. We have a new board; we have more tolerant board members. I understand but we’re not in the business of (inaudible) taking it public. We’re in the business of …(inaudible) service… and in due time, you’ll hear all that. But questions around an empty lot and wanting to know what that is, I don’t know what to say to that.

(referring to a question raised by Stewart Lazares earlier in the meeting.)

– BCNS, Sudi Smoller – We want to make sure that you are taking action towards a sustainable future that does not involve greenhouse gasses.

– D’Amato – Yea that’s part of it. That’s not our complete mantra. What’s going on today… is not going to happen overnight….

– BCNS, Sudi Smoller – It has to be part of all of our mantras.

– D’Amato – It’s part of our mantra… The federal government is writing checks it can’t cash. It’s part of our mantra. We can’t write checks that we can’t cash. I get it, but it’s not going to happen overnight.

– BCNS, Sudi Smoller – We have to keep chipping away at it…I think you have the best rates and great service. But, I think your mission statement has to be expanded. In today’s world, it has to be more than that. You have to give leadership to the future on

sustainability…(inaudible)….People are feeling like you’re not telling us the good or the bad.

– D’Amato – I think we’re doing as good as anybody. Do you think we’re not doing a good job?

– Commissioner Tracy Valletti – To Sudi’s point about emailing and people not hearing it because it is internal, can we treat that as correspondence and address it publicly?

-Joe Anastasi, PMLP Director – We can do a number of things but that is one of the reasons why we created and transitioned to the Energy Awareness Forum online – for that exact purpose to contain a list of questions and answers that the public has asked.

– BCNS, Sudi Smoller – The deadline (on the PMLP website) still says January 21.

– Anastasi – So, it’s out of date. You can still submit a question.

– BCNS, Sudi Smoller – And then, when will we see the answer? And then, once you publish it after 60 days, where does that answer go?

– Anastasi – Right there on the energy awareness age.

– BCNS, Sudi Smoller – Well, I can’t seem to find much information on that page. (BCNS checked the page on 3/30 and found the deadline has been updated to: If you ask a question and wish to follow up, please use our Contact Page or call Community Relations at 978-531-5975. https://pmlp.com/229/Energy-Awareness-Forum)

– Anastasi – It’s only because there’s only been two questions asked in two-and-a half ears.

– BCNS, Sudi Smoller – It’s a bit disheartening when we have to make a deadline and the latest deadline is last January for several months.

– Audience Member – If you don’t answer our questions, then we are really in trouble.

– Anastasi – In my opinion, actions speak louder than words. And, we have made every action in the right direction. If our words are not up to date then we apologize and we’ll be better at that. But, our actions have been unanimously fantastic for the last 50 years and no one is going to make us feel that we haven’t done enough because we’ve done more than almost everyone. We are ahead of the curve.

– BCNS, Sudi Smoller – And I’ve said you have, but for the one part: lack of public and community engagement. It’s about the future.

– Anastasi – I am very sorry that you feel that way but I disagree that we are not doing enough. I believe we are. I will always try to be better and that’s something that I take on every day of my life. So, we will be better but I don’t accept that we’re not good enough.

– BCNS, Sudi Smoller – The question that immediately comes to mind: Why are there three pages of public notices in the Weekly News this week from this board and you don’t say one word about it before this meeting or at this meeting. What any of that means,

people don’t understand. (Go to pages 12-14.

– Anastasi – Because a lot goes into those decisions and we barely got it out in time. You’ll find out more information is going to be available tomorrow.

– BCNS, Sudi Smoller – That’s like saying to me ‘you can see the budget once we pass it.’

– Anastasi – The newspaper article today is about Monday. So it’s not live until Monday.

– D’Amato – Can I add one thing because you have a feeling like we’re not forthcoming or whatnot – not public enough. I have a feeling sometimes like you are looking to trip us up. That we’re under the microscope, that you.. say nice things but it comes across….I can feel that we’re under the microscope with you guys within the last year and a half.

– BCNS, Sudi Smoller = Can I be frank. That’s because…

– Commissioner ? – asks “of 2015A?” (the new 60MW peaker)

– BCNS, Sudi Smoller – Because, you don’t share anything with us. You turn off the microphones. The way you treat us and treat public engagement is not very welcoming. So, we’re constantly feeling – we better get there early to make sure the microphones are not

missing again. We better get there early, so we can record this and then people don’t use their microphones so we can’t hear it. It seems no matter what we do, you all are trying to nix it. I’d like to get past that too but that’s been our history since we first found out about the Peabody Peaker. That’s been the history of our interactions. You still have not released your budget. You are publicly elected and you don’t let us see it or talk about it until it’s

been passed?

You ask why we seem to be resisting you? Because other boards don’t do that. They publish their budget. They have a way of communicating. They publish minutes in their entirety, not just a tweaking of the agenda. They record their meetings not necessarily on video but on audio.

– D’Amato – What if everything is the way you wanted and our rates were terrible and our service was terrible? Would that be good?

– BCNS, Sudi Smoller – I’d be here working to address that.

– BCNS: Ron Smoller – Regarding the forum, I truly believe that you are not aware…I’ve sent questions well ahead of what’s shown as the Jan 21 deadline. It’s March 28, there has not been a question posted, including questions that I did send you last September. There should have been a posting in December, it’s a quarterly forum. There should have been answers to questions in December, maybe there weren’t any, mine was before December but it was shortly after. There should been another one (posting) this month, March 21 would be the (traditional) deadline date. It should have been a posting of my questions I submitted before Jan 21. There’s nothing there.

– Anastasi – Every question that has been submitted through the forum is posted on the forum. If you send a question in another fashion it doesn’t …

– BCNS, Ron Smoller – I submitted through the forum, two questions, prior to Jan 21 and they’re still not there. That’s over 60 days. (The two questions, as of 3/30, were not on the update on the Energy Awareness Forum page.)

– Anastasi – I remember seeing them there.

– Audience member – Maybe they are gone now.

– Anastasi – Potentially, that is when we cut over to our new website, maybe.

– BCNS, Ron Smoller – They were meant to be on the Forum…

.Everything I have ever submitted to you ….. I have always followed your rules. I’m always trying to follow all of your rules. I don’t think they’re all great but I get it.

Peabody TV – 8:03 is where BCNS “remarks” begin. Stewart Lazares spoke just prior to 8:03.

Both MMWEC and PMLP officials stated during public meetings that batteries are not a feasible replacement for the proposed plant because batteries are expensive, require more space than is available and would fail to provide adequate reliability to the electric grid.

“MMWEC said that batteries would not work for Peabody because there was not enough room on the site,” said Jane Dye of CHEF, Citizens for Holden’s Energy Future. “Our response was “What? Batteries don’t have to all be in the same place. Spread them around to different MLPs (muncipial light plants).”

That’s what’s happening. Fourteen MMWEC communities, including Peabody, have partnered wiith MMWEC and Delorean Power LLC (Delorean), a Virginia-based, energy storage project developer, owner and operator. The first 5MW battery energy storage facility is planned in Holden Mass.

PMLP’s website includes information about a utility battery storage facility. “Battery Storage reduces our bulk power costs by allowing us to store power when it is cheaper for us to buy (during non-peak times), and then to use the battery to shave the peak which helps to reduce stress on the bulk power system and reduces PMLP’s transmission and capacity costs. This will be a collaborative project with MMWEC, and is targeted to be installed on PMLP’s property at 201 Warren Street Ext.” https://pmlp.com/224/Current-Projects

The resulting shift in energy demand from on-peak to off-peak hours will lead to significant cost and environmental benefits for customers in the 14 communities involved. But, Peabody’s customers will also see a reduction in air pollution since our three oil-and-gas burning peaker plants should run less.

The energy storage project is the first in a series that Delorean has developed with facilitation from MMWEC. In late 2022, Delorean won an exclusive partnership to build similar energy storage projects across the state with many expected to finish construction by the end of 2024.

https://www.salemnews.com/…/article_7e98ab0c-d97c-5ea0…

(Psst – Seems our spectral visitors are infatuated with the audio of PMLP meetings. Who’s controlling the mics? No volume?! We’re working on it! Stay tuned!) On Halloween, 10/31. the audio was restored. Thanks PAT!

According to applications for permits, Special Project 2015A will emit nearly 51,000 tons of the greenhouse gas carbon dioxide into the atmosphere every year—the equivalent of adding 11,000 combustion engine cars to Massachusetts’ roads each year. Furthermore, the peaker plant will require installing a natural gas compressor to increase natural gas pressure, a 90-foot smokestack and a 2,500-7,500 gallon new tank to hold aqueous urea.”

This view of the plant was revealed recently when parked vehicles were moved at the 58R Pulaski St address.

photos by Sophie Noelle Hartley

“So far, there’s been no penalties for Peabody,” PMLP Manager Joe Anastasia said. He explained that problems moving forward are “administrative” and involve an issue between MMWEC and PMLP regarding ownership of the common hardware being used for the plant.

As proposed, the new plant appears to rely heavily on sharing PMLP resources. In addition to sharing .6 acres of the City’s land off Pulaski Street, the facilities to be shared include:

– provide the new plant with natural gas via the Waters River site’s connection;

– allow the new plant to connect with the regional high voltage transmission system by connecting to a PMLP substation

– share a new, 200,000 gallon oil storage tank with both facilities

Another “arms-length” agreement to share facilities includes maintenance support from PMLP for the new plant. The project will share (and pay PMLP for the use of) some ancillary facilities at the site, such as the oil unloading facility, and MMWEC planned to contract certain “routine maintenance” activities to PMLP.

The new plant was first proposed 8 years ago and was originally to be completed by Summer 2021. That deadline was extended by two years to Summer 2023. That means, ISO-NE expects the new plant is ready to provide electricity to the energy grid. If it calls on the new plant and it does not provide the back-up energy requested, IS0-NE can issue a fine. Is that fine charged to MMWEC? Will they pass that cost on to the 14 communities invested in the plant? Peabody is responsible for 30% of the plant’s cost. Could we see a bill for 30% of any fine that might occur?

The city owns, but PMLP controls and operates the two existing peaker plants at the Waters River station. The new plant is owned by MMWEC.

PMLP’s website announced they will soon re-name the new plant, eliminating SP2015A (Special Project2015A).

Coming Soon: #2 – Status of Generators 1 & 2

Caption:  Wondering if the new smokestack at the plant is complete?  This photo was taken October 10.  Is the smokestack 90 feet high as proposed?  The red box is a 31-foot-tall rectangular stack installed 52 years ago.

Files submitted electronically by PMLP to the Executive Office of Energy and Environmental Affairs (EEA) provide details on the 20 gallon, #2 diesel oil spill that resulted from work on the new power plant.

According to PMLP representative Bryan Howcroft, “The release was caused by a gasket in a pipe flange.  The piping is all new as part of a construction project and the general contractor, Massachusetts Municipal Wholesale Elecric Company (MMWEC) construction team made some errors that led to the rupture.”

The release affected crushed stone and two catch basins that daylight into a nearby stream.  A boom was placed into the catch basins.

The stormwater structure is about 40 feet deep and showed signs of petroleum staining and seeping through a small gap between the structure and the manhole.  “However, no sheen or recoverable oil was present in the water…PMLP operators took swift and decisive initial action, catching the release quickly, and immediately deploying absorbents around the spill site,” said DEP Responder Greg Murray. “The action prevented recoverable product from reaching the stormwater system and impacting the nearby wetland.”

The DEP conducted a field excavation and found recoverable oil to be recovered with absorbents as needed and to remove the recoverable released product from the impacted catch basin.  The spill requires the removal of 30 cubic yards of contaminated soil.

It is a critical bill that ensures the equitable distribution of benefits and burdens of the clean energy transition by requiring municipal utilities (also known as Municipal Light Plants (MLPs) to adhere to the same clean energy goals and requirements as Investor Owned Utilities (IOUs). In particular, the bill requires MLPs to meet the Renewable Portfolio Standard (RPS) and the Clean Peak Standard (CPS) by 2030 – requirements that the rest of the state is already required to meet. It also establishes a $50 million fund to accelerate the transition to clean energy for environmental justice communities (like Peabody) , low- or moderate-income housing, and elderly housing that are being served by MLPs.

This bill is essential for Massachusetts to meet its own clean energy targets on time and in an equitable and just way. Take action to advance clean energy, equity, and innovation by calling on your elected officials to co-sponsor this important legislation!

Want to learn more?

Let’s bring the powerful, local MLP model into a clean power future!

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