Our Revolution MA (ORMA) and others will rally on Tuesday October 18, 2022 from 4 to 6 PM at the Eversource facility in Hadley. 55 Russell St. (Rt. 9), Hadley, MA (Park in Hampton Inn Village Shops west of Eversource.) Rain Date: Wednesday, October 19, 4 to 6pm.
When Eversource originally installed a 29-mile-long electric line (running through 11 towns in the western Mass Connecticut River Valley), they were permitted to cut a 100-foot swath of mature trees. Now Eversource wants to double the width of the corridor to 200 feet by clearcutting an additional 370 acres of forest! They are also demanding the state waive the required environmental impact review!
Weighing the worth of these trees for the public good: Eversource’s plan will mean cities and towns must spend money to mitigate the costs of (1) a significant increase in stormwater runoff and flooding, (2) lose annual carbon capture, (3) incur damage to local habitats, including those of endangered species, and (4) lose tourism income from New England foliage! These losses will affect many western Mass towns, including: Northfield, Erving, Wendell, Montague, Leverett, Shutesbury, Pelham, Belchertown, Amherst, Granby, and Ludlow.
The campaign to stop Eversource has sent thousands of letters and submitted hundreds of comments demanding that the Mass. Executive Office of Energy and Environmental Affairs (EEA) reject Eversource’s request for a waiver of the required environmental impact report. And in response …. We have heard NOTHING!
The rally calls for Eversource end its opposition to a full environmental impact report, as is required by the Massachusetts Environmental Policy Act (MEPA), and insists that the Mass. Executive Office of Energy and Environmental Affairs (EEA), do its job!
