COMMONWEALTH OF MASSACHUSETTS Energy Facilities Siting Board ) In the Matter of the ...

139 Pages·2006·4.24 MB·English

COMMONWEALTH OF MASSACHUSETTS

Energy Facilities Siting Board

)

In the Matter of the Petition of )

ANP Bellingham Energy Company ) EFSB 97-1

for Approval to Construct )

a Bulk Generation Facility and Ancillary Facilities )

in Bellingham, Massachusetts )

)

FINAL DECISION

M. Kathryn Sedor
Hearing Officer
August 18, 1998
On the Decision:
Jeffrey Brandt
William S. Febiger
Enid Kumin
Peter Mills
APPEARANCES: Edward L. Selgrade, Esq.
Law Offices of Edward L. Selgrade, Esq.
200 Wheeler Road, 4th Floor
Burlington, Massachusetts 01803
FOR: ANP Bellingham Energy Company
Petitioner
Clifford A. Matthews
Chairman
Bellingham Conservation Commission
P.O. Box 213
Bellingham, Massachusetts 02019
FOR: Bellingham Conservation Commission
Intervenor
Mark J. Lanza
Town Attorney
150 Emmons Street
Franklin, Massachusetts 02038
FOR: Town of Franklin
Intervenor
J. Raymond Miyares, Esq.
Pickett and Miyares
47 Winter Street, 7th Floor
Boston, Massachusetts 02108
FOR: Town of Franklin
Intervenor
Kathryn Reid, Esq.
New England Power Company
Massachusetts Electric Company
25 Research Drive
Westborough, Massachusetts 01582
FOR: New England Power Company
- and-
Massachusetts Electric Company
Intervenor
Kenneth and Judith Barnett
123 Maple Street
Bellingham, Massachusetts 02019
Intervenor
Linda L. Blais
155 Maple Street
Bellingham, Massachusetts 02019
Intervenor
Frank E. Falvey
920 Pond Street
Franklin, Massachusetts 02038
Intervenor
Joseph A. Goulart
9 Sunken Meadow Road
Franklin, Massachusetts 02038
Intervenor
James P. LaPlante
91 Chestnut Street
Franklin, Massachusetts 02038
Intervenor
Gary B. McAlister
35 Stanwood Drive
Franklin, Massachusetts 02038
Intervenor
John DeTore, Esq.
Rubin & Rudman
50 Rowes Wharf
Boston, Massachusetts 02110
FOR: Infrastructure Development Corporation
Interested Person
Mark A. Brady
11 Sunken Meadow Road
Franklin, Massachusetts 02038
Interested Person
Peter and Trisha Dorfman
23 Oxford Drive
Franklin, Massachusetts 02038
Interested Person
Frances Fabricotti
106 Mendon Street
Bellingham, Massachusetts 02019
Interested Person
Jon Fish
19 Stonehedge Road
Bellingham, Massachusetts 02019
Interested Person
Susan M. Flaherty
10 Sunken Meadow Road
Franklin, Massachusetts 02038
Interested Person
Richard R. Cornetta, Jr., Esq.
12 Washington Street
Franklin, Massachusetts 02038
Interested Person
John D. and Judith T. Webb
3 Sunken Meadow Road
Franklin, Massachusetts 02038
Interested Person
Richard G. McLaughry, Esq.
Robert A. Nailing, Esq.
Cabot Power Corporation
75 State Street, 12th Floor
Boston, Massachusetts 02109
FOR: Cabot Power Corporation
Interested Person
Marc A. Silver, Esq.
Sherburne, Powers & Needham
One Beacon Street
Boston, Massachusetts 02108
FOR: Ocean State Power
Interested Person
Mary Beth Gentleman, Esq.
Andrew Latimer, Esq.
Foley, Hoag & Eliot LLP
One Post Office Square
Boston, Massachusetts 02019
FOR: U.S. Generating Company
Interested Person
TABLE OF CONTENTS
I. INTRODUCTION Page 1

A. Summary of the Proposed Project and Facilities Page 1

B. Jurisdiction Page 2

C. Procedural History Page 3

D. Scope of Review Page 6

II. ANALYSIS OF THE PROPOSED PROJECT Page 8

A. Need Analysis Page 8

1. Standard of Review Page 8

2. Reliability Need Page 12

a. New England Page 12

(1) Demand Forecasts Page 13

(a) Description Page 13

i) Demand Forecast Methods Page 14

ii) DSM Page 15
iii) Adjusted Load Forecasts Page 15

(b) Analysis Page 15

(2) Supply Forecasts Page 17

(a) Description Page 17

i) Capacity Assumptions Page 17

ii) Reserve Margin Page 22

(b) Analysis Page 22

(3) Need Forecasts Page 24

(a) Description Page 24

(b) Analysis Page 25

b. Massachusetts Page 26

(1) Demand Forecasts, DSM and Adjusted Load Forecasts Page 27

(a) Description Page 27

(b) Analysis Page 27

(2) Supply Forecast and Reserve Margin Page 28

(a) Description Page 28

(b) Analysis Page 29

(3) Need Forecasts Page 30

(a) Description Page 30

(b) Analysis Page 31

3. Economic Need Page 32

a. New England Page 32

(1) Description Page 32
(a) Existing NEPOOL Dispatch Page 32

(b) Dispatch Under Deregulated Generation Market Page 35

(2) Analysis Page 36

b. Massachusetts Page 38

(1) Description Page 38

(2) Analysis Page 39

4. Environmental Need Page 39

a. New England Page 39

(1) Description Page 39

(2) Analysis Page 41

b. Massachusetts Page 44

(1) Description Page 44

(2) Analysis Page 45

5. Conclusions on Need Page 45

B. Alternative Technologies Comparison Page 46

1. Standard of Review Page 46

2. Identification of Resource Alternatives Page 47

a. Description Page 47

b. Analysis Page 50

3. Environmental Impacts Page 51

a. Air Quality Page 52

b. Water Supply and Wastewater Page 54

c. Noise Page 55
d. Fuel Transportation Page 56

e. Land Use Page 57

f. Solid Waste Page 59

g. Findings and Conclusions on Environmental Impacts Page 60

4. Cost Page 60

a. Description Page 60

b. Analysis Page 63

5. Reliability Page 63

a. Description Page 63

b. Analysis Page 64

6. Comparison of the Proposed Project and Technology Alternatives Page 65

C. Project Viability Page 66

1. Standard of Review Page 66

a. Existing Standard Page 66

2. Financiability and Construction Page 66

a. Financiability Page 66

b. Construction Page 69

3. Operations and Fuel Acquisition Page 74

a. Operations Page 74

b. Fuel Acquisition Page 76

4. Findings and Conclusions on Project Viability Page 80

III. ANALYSIS OF THE PROPOSED FACILITIES Page 81

A. Site Selection Process Page 81