“In an ever changing energy market that now includes energy sources like solar, biomass, natural gas, biogas and fuel cell technology, what types of power generation facilities does a municipality need to consider when drafting local ordinances? Depending on the type of power generation facility proposed, how should the City regulate key considerations like water usage, noise, local air emissions and safety? How can the potential benefits and costs of local electrical power generation (i.e., generating power at or near the location where the power would be used) for a business or for a homeowner or for the community be weighed?

“In January, Rockland’s City Council enacted a moratorium on the construction of new power generation facilities larger than 10 megawatts in size. The Council also directed the Planning Board, with assistance from the Energy Committee, to develop ordinance amendments governing power generation for the City Council to consider. The Planning Board will likely complete a draft ordinance for Council consideration by the end of March.

“Three well attended public forums in 2015 identified a number of topics that warranted careful consideration. The Planning Board, with support from the Energy Committee, the City Attorney, plus engineers from Woodard and Curran as well as SMRT, has been carefully reviewing the City’s existing ordinances and developing new provisions. Before finalizing recommendations to the City Council, the Planning Board asked the Energy Committee to facilitate a public forum covering the primary aspects of the Concept Power Generation Ordinance.

“The March 24 forum will begin with an overview by Woodard & Curran engineer Dan Kelley of the various types of power generation technologies that could be covered by a proposed ordinance. The forum will then move through the primary areas in the proposed ordinance revisions: (1) water usage; (2) noise; (3) cooling towers; (4) local air emissions; (5) safety; as well as (6) setbacks and buffers. Rockland City Attorney Kevin Beal will also summarize key provisions of the draft ordinance. Time will be allotted for discussion between each topic.

All who are interested in local energy questions are encouraged to attend. 

Public Forum on Draft Rockland Power Generation Ordinance

Organized by the Rockland Energy Advisory Committee

March 24, 2016
Technical Advisor: Dan Kelley, Woodard & Curran
Moderator: Larry Pritchett, City Council and Energy Advisory Committee Chair

Introduction and Overview of the Ordinance Review process (5 Minutes)
Energy Committee Compilation of Public Comments; Consultation with Woodard & Curran as well as SMRT; Planning Board review & Revision of Ordinances

Grid Scale & Distributed Generation Technology Overview (15 minutes)

Water Utilization (5‐minute overview, 10 minutes for questions)

Water Use; Reutilization Requirements; Options For Using Processed Wastewater

Cooling Towers (5‐minute overview, 10 minutes for questions)
Water Vapor; Precipitants; Drift Elimination; Biological & PH Treatment)

Noise (5‐minute overview, 10 minutes for questions) Spectral dBA vs. Single‐Standard dBA; Day vs. Night)

Air Emissions (5‐minute overview, 10 minutes for questions)
No Increase vs. Net Decrease; Inspection, Maintenance, & Enforcement)

Plant Safety (5‐minute overview, 10 minutes for questions)
Demonstration Of Safety; Existing Codes & Standards; Inspection, Maintenance, Enforcement

Traffic (5‐minute overview, 10 minutes for questions)
Traffic Study Requirement; Possible Neighborhood & Road Impact

Financial Capacity and Decommissioning (5‐minute overview, 10 minutes for questions) Financial Plan/Financial Capacity of Developer; Physical Removal Of Plant At End of Life

Audience Questions on Topics Not Covered

Next Steps