Residents frustrated with lack of progress in reducing racket from plant
Unless Evergreen Solar can reduce noise from its Devens plant on Barnum Road to the levels spelled out in its temporary operating license by June 29, it could find its hours of operation restricted.
The Harvard selectman voted unanimously on Tuesday to ask Harvard Building Inspector Gabriel Vellante to modify the Evergreen Solar plant license to limit its hours of operation to 7 a.m. to 4 p.m., Monday through Friday, unless it completes the corrective actions spelled out by the Devens Enterprise Commission (DEC) in its May 26 notice of violation. The motion drew a loud and sustained round of applause by the more than 20 Harvard residents and some out-of-town supporters who attended the meeting.
The action followed a report to the selectman by Neil Angus, staff planner for the DEC, who said DEC took the noise violations seriously, and believed that Evergreen Solar was making a good faith effort to reduce the operational hums, rumbles, and racket of its operations.
Residents who live opposite the plant, across Cold Spring Brook, have grown increasingly frustrated with what they perceive as lack of progress in reducing its noise. Complaints were voiced as early as February, but DEC did not issue a notice of violation until April. Noise from the plant averages nearly twice the levels at which it was authorized to operate, and at certain times, such as the delivery of gas to the site, spikes well above that.
Jay Wallace, a co-owner of Dunroven Farm, said that the continuing high noise levels from the plant are a health hazard. Speaking to the selectmen, he expressed doubt that Evergreen Solar, in spite of its efforts, would be able to reduce its noise to acceptable levels before September, even if it met the specific requirements spelled out in the current notice of violations (see article).
“The problem is it’s going to take months,” said Wallace, and “torturing us for months…is not right.” “Somebody’s going to get really badly hurt if they’re subjected to this continuously until September,” he said.
“We find ourselves in the very silly position of being the chief elected body in a town that is being impacted by development … and we have absolutely no authority to do anything,” said Selectman Leo Blair, who proposed the letter. “To have a situation in which we can’t protect our populace from this kind of a situation is untenable,” he added, to applause.
The temporary occupancy permit under which Evergreen Solar currently operates is issued at the discretion of the DEC director. However, Building Inspector Vellante is the chief compliance officer for the permit and is believed to have the authority to take action if the plant is determined to be a hazard to the health of nearby residents.
Copies of the letter will also be sent to the chairman of the DEC and Ayer Selectmen. Harvard members of DEC will also be notified.
