WENDELL CONTINUES FIGHT AGAINST ATTORNEY GENERAL DECISIONS
In May the Town of Wendell filed a motion to request that the MA State Land Court rule against the MA Attorney General’s disapproval of Wendell’s general bylaw on licensing of battery storage systems.
Greenfield Recorder coverage of the motion
MAY 5 RALLY – Fighting for appropriate siting
Coverage of local activists’ work to ensure appropriate siting:
See https://www.mass.gov/info-details/2024-climate-act-stakeholder-sessions#stakeholder-comment-
Forests sustain life on Earth, and we must not destroy them. NAB is primarily concerned with the siting and permitting of energy systems that run roughshod over our towns’ ability to preserve the valuable forested ecosystems of Massachusetts.
NAB News Links:
Top newsmakers of 2024: No Assault & Batteries
We said “No Assault & Batteries” in Wendell and meant it:
Battery storage bylaw passes in Wendell (Greenfield Recorder 5/2/24 article)
NAB Statement on the Battery Storage project cancellation
Moss Landing Power Plant Fire (Details and Local Action)
Background:
The extensive woodlands and wetlands of Wendell, Massachusetts are part of a “Green Lung” spreading from northern Connecticut north. The state of the Massachusetts and energy industry corporations say they want to transition our state to a clean energy future. So do we. But an industrial Battery Energy Storage System (BESS) in the heart of valuable forest isn’t appropriate, for the climate, people and the region as a whole. There are alternatives.
Does the important and vast biodiversity of Wendell’s forest ecosystem need this?
Who We Are
Concerned residents of Massachusetts are trying to preserve the finite resources of the town of Wendell. No Assault & Batteries is a citizen effort founded in October 2023 to protect the town of Wendell and surrounding region, population and natural environment by preventing construction of a 105MW lithium battery energy storage system planned by New Leaf Energy Inc.
Natural Resources
Wildlife
What we Want
To prevent the spikes in power demand that BESS is supposed to solve, NAB would prefer to see more aggressive conservation measures taken first. Preservation of forest land is also an important environmental policy priority for the Commonwealth, and battery technology implementation should be compatible with using “forests as forests.”