'Almost unbelievable.' Barnstable outcry after Thanksgiving eve decision on Park City Wind
Off-shore wind developer Avangrid received tentative state approval to land power transmission cables for its Park City Wind project under Craigville Beach, in a Thanksgiving eve decision that has angered some Barnstable residents.
"I find it almost unbelievable that the EFSB (Massachusetts Energy Facilities Siting Board) issued this Thanksgiving eve," said Bob Schulte, first vice president of the Centerville Civic Association. "However, I suppose what better way to avoid publicity and kill 4 to 5 days of review time by the parties."
On Wednesday, the state board issued a 232-page provisional decision, with conditions meant to cut down on the project's environmental impact.
"Based on the extensive record in this proceeding, the tentative decision finds that the company’s proposed project route and site locations best meet the identified need in a reliable manner, with a minimum environmental impact, at the lowest possible cost," the board wrote in the document's summary.
Residents raise concerns over Park City Wind in flurry of letters
The tentative approval was issued amidst a hue and cry from some in Barnstable for the panel to hold off any decision-making while the status of the project remains in question — and with many concerns and questions from both town leaders and residents still unanswered. A concerted letter-writing campaign in recent days resulted in a couple hundred missives to the board.
In addition to being issued the day before a national holiday, the decision comes just two days after the town submitted a petition to be given intervenor status — a petition that included a request for the board to reopen its hearing on the project.
"It was very disappointing to see the EFSB ignore calls from the public to hold off issuance until it had a chance to consider the town's petition to be an intervenor, filed Monday, and new facts introduced by the town," said Schulte.
Residents Maria and Greg Gerdy agree.
"The tentative decision issued by the EFSB, the day before Thanksgiving, is not one that many Barnstable citizens are thankful for," they noted in an email.
While Schulte acknowledges that the siting board could still act on the town's petition in coming days, nothing is guaranteed. He hopes, if that happens, it is done before the board votes on a final decision. The energy board is expected to take up the Park City Wind matter again on Dec. 11.
"If they waited until Dec. 11 and said 'OK, we're going to let the town intervene,' then they would probably hold off on making a decision," he said. "But it seems like the logical thing would have been to say 'Let's rule on this petition first before we issue this tentative decision.' Instead, they rushed down the path."
Park City Wind does not have a power purchase agreement in place.
Power purchase agreements are contracts between renewable energy producers, like Avangrid, and buyers of the energy that's produced.
In October, Avangrid announced it was terminating its Connecticut contract after a failed attempt to renegotiate better terms for Park City Wind amidst changed market conditions that made financing under the earlier pact untenable. In March, the company similarly pulled out of its contract in Massachusetts for its 1,200 megawatt Commonwealth Wind project in favor of taking its chances seeking a new agreement in the state's fourth wind procurement round, now underway.
According to the company, the projects have been troubled by supply chain issues, expenses tied to the war in Ukraine, inflation and rising interest rates that have all resulted in higher overall costs not offset by the previous agreements completed before the economic situation took a dive.
Town Council President Matthew Levesque said by phone that the issues the town wants to bring to light "are things that have come up since the second host community agreement was signed." The document was completed in May 2022.
Park City Wind schedule no longer aligns with Barnstable sewer construction plan
According to the town's intervenor petition, with the company's voluntary termination of its power purchase agreement with Connecticut utilities, "the entire purpose of the HCA (Host Community Agreement ) and the project has been called into question."
"The town entered into the HCA and declined to intervene in this proceeding in 2020 in part because PCW (Park City Wind) held the promise of timely contributing renewable energy to the regional grid," the 11-page petition reads. "That flow of renewable energy is no longer imminent, and the delay in the construction schedule will have significant negative impacts on the town."
The petition explains the town and Avangrid had "coordinated efforts" for the town's sewer construction, to be immediately followed by installation of Park City Wind's cable and conduit. The work was originally planned to begin in the spring of 2024, "including permitting and financing of the sewer installation through the State Revolving Fund."
Should the project bid again, the closest bid selection date appears to be June 2024, in Massachusetts, the petition reads.
Taking into consideration further contract negotiations, Department of Public Utilities review, contract approval in Massachusetts — and possibly Rhode Island and Connecticut — financing, and time to order equipment, the town estimates things could be delayed at least 18 to 24 months.
"The town cannot stand by indefinitely while PCW considers and pursues its options over an indefinite time period. The failure of the town to meet construction deadlines required by the (Comprehensive Waste Management Plan) and the new (state) Title V regulations could have significant financial consequences for the town and its residents and could reinvigorate new litigation against the town," according to the petition.
Barnstable does not support cable work that would close a bike and walking path
The town is also pointing out a change for staging microtunneling under the Centerville River at 2 Short Beach Road, instead of at Craigville Beach. According to the petition, the company failed to inform the town's administration of this change to "a lot within a residential subdivision, on the banks of the Centerville River, and immediately next to a highly utilized bike and walking path" — a plan the town does not support.
"The deep excavation will consume virtually the entire residential lot and will require closing the bike and walking path for an extended time. The proposed duration of the proposed construction is also of concern as this is a residential neighborhood," the petition states.
The town further points out that the National Heritage and Endangered Species Program within the state Division of Fisheries and Wildlife on Sept. 13 issued a permit to the town under the Massachusetts Endangered Species Act "that applies in part to the PCW shore landing site." This MESA (Massachusetts Endangered Species Act) permit did not exist at the outset of the proceedings.
What are Avangrid's plans?
Avangrid is looking to pass power cables under the west end of Craigville Beach, then under the Centerville River at 2 Short Beach Road − which was purchased in late June for $430,000, according to town assessing records − in order to route them to an interconnection point in West Barnstable.
Plans call for conveying the cables under the river using microtunneling — a trenchless construction technique. After that, the cables would be routed underground about four miles to a proposed new substation on 6.4 acres on Shootflying Hill Road. From there, the power would be routed nearly a mile to the existing Eversource substation on Oak Street in West Barnstable, where an expansion is proposed to accommodate the connection of the Park City Wind project with the ISO-NE electrical grid.
Concerns raised over associated Mid-Cape Reliability Project
This plan, which the siting board is also considering under a permit sought by Eversource as part of its Mid-Cape Reliability Project, has raised concerns among residents as well.
It involves expanding the West Barnstable substation on Oak Street, and installing new transmission lines. Then, across Route 6A, at the Knights Inn site, a new station would be part of the Park City Wind project, Schulte said.
Multiple concerns were outlined in a Nov. 15 letter to the siting board from state Rep. Steven Xiarhos after a hearing the board held on Nov. 14.
"The environmental impacts, spanning air emissions, noise, traffic, waste, electric and magnetic fields, wetlands, water quality degradation, visual intrusions, and potential risks to public health and safety, have become focal points of contention within our community," he wrote, urging the board not to approve the project until concerns are adequately addressed and a comprehensive reassessment is conducted.
The Centerville-Osterville-Martons Mills Water Department also submitted a letter, on Nov. 18, with similar concerns, particularly about the potential for impacts on drinking water sources. The department is recommending "further review in the form of an Environmental Impact Report and Development of Regional Impact to address the storage of hazardous materials above the sole source aquifer," the letter states.
The department is also requesting a review by the Environmental Protection Agency.
Schulte said if there were any leaks into the aquifer, or nearby Wequaquet Lake, "we'd be up the river."
Hope for issues to be addressed
Going forward, residents concerned about the projects are hopeful their voices will be heard through the newly composed town council.
"We have an upward battle based on the aggressive agenda Gov. Healy has put forth and secondly, the politics involved with offshore wind," said resident Sandy Jones. "That said, don't count us out. I believe more so in our community and the desire to preserve beautiful Cape Cod. Politicians, town officials and residents are working together to stand up and protect wells and drinking water. That's incredible and I hope the momentum continues."
How to comment
The hearing on the Mid-Cape Reliability project application remains open, and the state siting board is taking public comments until Nov. 28.
Anyone wishing to submit comments should send an email as follows:
In the Subject line, include: "Comment Regarding EFSB19-06A"
Send it to both of the following email addresses: Donna.Sharkey@mass.gov and dpu.efiling@mass.gov
Anyone wishing to submit comments about Park City Wind (EFSB 20-01) should send emails by the close of business on Dec. 6 as follows:
In the Subject line, include: "Comment Regarding EFSB20-01"
Send it to both of the following email addresses: Robert.J.Shea@mass.gov and dpu.efiling@mass.gov
Dockets can be looked up by visiting: https://eeaonline.eea.state.ma.us/DPU/Fileroom/dockets/bynumber
Heather McCarron writes about climate change, environment, energy, science and the natural world, in addition to news and features in Barnstable and Brewster. Reach her at hmccarron@capecodonline.com, or follow her on X @HMcCarron_CCT
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This article originally appeared on Cape Cod Times: Park City Wind gets tentative permission to land at Craigville Beach
