MASSACHUSETTS ENERGY FACILITIES SITING BOARD UNANIMOUSLY APPROVES BROCKTON CLEAN ENERGY

Board approves plan to construct 350 MW combined-cycle natural gas power plant

$350,000,000 investment destined for Brockton, MA

The Massachusetts Energy Facilities Siting Board (EFSB) today unanimously approved Brockton Clean Energy's petition to site a $350,000,000 clean-burning natural gas facility in Brockton, in a ruling that declared the project safe for residents and its siting respectful to local minority populations.  

"The EFSB provided a thorough and robust review of the project and Brockton Clean Energy looks forward to the completion of this process, working to satisfy local zoning authorities, continuing the process begun last month with Brockton's Site Review Board, which includes all of the department heads from the various departments of City Hall," said Ron Kelly, project manager for Brockton Clean Energy. 

The EFSB approved the project in its entirety, including a number of construction and operating conditions to ensure public safety. The decision comes after three hearings in front of the full board and 20 days of expert testimony last year, eclipsed in its depth only by Cape Wind project whose testimony lasted 21 days.

For Brockton Clean Energy, the Board approved the safe use of treated wastewater for cooling the plant, which will provide further revenues for the city and allow for the expansion of capacity at Brockton's water treatment plant.

In response to the public interveners in the process, the EFSB also placed limits on the use of ultra low sulfur distillate, operating noise levels, construction hours, and stack height, and set requirements for visual mitigation, on and off-site, as well as stack maintenance. 

"With the preliminary state ruling in hand, Brockton Clean Energy hopes to complete the process with City officials to bring the benefits of 300 jobs and some $100,000,000 in revenues and fees to Brockton over the next 30 years," said Kelly.

Advanced Power, the parent company of Brockton Clean Energy, previously announced preliminary plans to site two additional clean natural gas facilities in Massachusetts, each of which would bring hundreds of jobs and millions of dollars in revenues and fees to local communities like Brockton.  Advanced Power contemplates a total investment of more than $1,000,000,000 in Massachusetts. 

Advanced Power's plans will provide economic development and job creation in communities where facilities are sited, help meet the state's future energy needs with cleaner, more efficient power, enable conservation and renewable energy initiatives to build upon a more solid base, and provide a key step towards reducing dependence on the state's worst polluting power stations. Displacing these older, dirtier plants will greatly improve air quality and reduce electricity costs for residents across Massachusetts. 

Advanced Power (http://www.advancedpower.ch/) is headquartered in London and Switzerland, with its U.S. business based in Boston.

For additional information on Brockton Clean Energy, please visit http://www.brocktoncleanenergy.com/ or call (508) 638-0826. For Brockton residents, company representatives are always available at the information office at 90 Main Street, next to Comcast, in downtown Brockton.