July 23, 2011
by Erik Potter, The Enterprise

Developers of a proposed natural gas power plant in Brockton have received a final air-quality permit from the Massachusetts Department of Environmental Protection.

The permit decision, issued Wednesday by John Winkler, permit chief at the DEP’s Bureau of Waste Prevention, signs off on the air-quality impacts of the proposed plant, subject to certain conditions.

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Plant opponents expressed disappointment at the DEP decision, but characterized it as a partial victory for the developer because of the additional permitting required.

“This isn’t a done deal, in other words. They’re only half-way there at this point,” said Kate Archard, a plant opponent now running for Councilor-at-large.

Eugene Benson, attorney for a group of Brockton and West Bridgewater plant opponents, said that he thought the decision was wrong.

“They shouldn’t have issued the permit,” Benson said, criticizing DEP for ruling before construction changes to the plant have been approved and wind data from Logan Airport was used to determine how pollutants will disperse from the plant’s stacks. “I’m going to be talking to our clients about appealing (this decision).”

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