Eversource Overview

Prevent Excessive Clear-cutting 

In this one project, Eversource plans to clear-cut 278 acres to widen their powerline corridor through 11 towns. Instead, they should cut only as much as is necessary to protect the powerlines. They have not used due care to distinguish between trees that pose risks and those that do not. 

• Project name: WT-11 Transmission Right-of-Way Reliability Program (TRRP) Project

• Towns impacted: Northfield, Erving, Wendell, Montague, Leverett, Shutesbury, Pelham, Belchertown, Amherst, Granby, and Ludlow

• Status: The MA Energy and Environmental Affairs (EEA) office has issued a certificate for Eversource's draft Environmental Impact Report (DEIR), with a stipulation that Eversource should continue to refine its plan. This certificate allows Eversource to proceed with writing their Final Environmental Impact Report (FEIR), and they are tentatively targeting an August submittal to the EEA. At that time, there will be a 30-day public comment period. Eversource will also need other permits, and towns' Conservation Commissions will also be involved.

Act Now -- Today's action

Secretary Tepper granted a certificate to Eversource that puts their proposal one step closer to inevitability. Before Eversource submits their Final Environmental Impact Report to her, we want to convince her to scrutinize it more critically – as Eversource and their aggressive proposal deserves. Please join us in sending a letter to Secretary Tepper.