WENDELL — The citizens group that formed in 2023 in opposition to a since-withdrawn proposal for a 105-megawatt battery storage facility plans to present clean energy siting suitability findings to state policymakers in Holyoke on May 5.

Members of No Assault & Batteries have submitted “Siting Suitability Standards for Clean Energy Installations,” a new 50-point compilation of policy statements, and are expected to testify at Holyoke Heritage State Park in front of the energy leadership of Gov. Maura Healey’s administration.

“The Legislature has just passed [in November 2024] a bill which puts the siting of new solar developments and solar-related facilities into the hands of a siting board that is now going to be a state agency that has, at least in its draft form, extreme powers to be able to override the desires of towns and municipalities, if they feel that it is in the interest of reaching the goal of net-zero [emissions] by 2050,” No Assault & Batteries member Court Dorsey said. “I’m looking forward to having the opportunity to articulate the concerns we have and I’m looking forward to having the opportunity of having those folks that are going to be representatives of the siting board there.”

The May 5 public hearing is scheduled to begin at 5:30 p.m. No Assault & Batteries and supporters of the state’s Solar Massachusetts Renewable Target (SMART) Program plan to gather outside the park building at 4:30 p.m. to express concerns about the siting and permitting of solar infrastructure in the natural environments of western Massachusetts.

According to No Assault & Batteries, Massachusetts has ample sites for solar to reach the state’s greenhouse gas emission reduction goals without further sacrifices of natural and working lands. Members say deforestation is one of the largest factors in climate change and has affected humans for hundreds of years.

“Without any change in our siting policy, we could lose another 9,000 acres of largely forested lands in central and western Massachusetts,” the No Assault & Batteries introduction reads. “Natural areas are essential for mitigating harms from climate disruption, biodiversity loss and water cycle interference.”

No Assault & Batteries says Massachusetts has already committed to wildland reserves, and energy policy should reflect this commitment.

Some of the 50 proposed siting suitability standards include prioritizing already disturbed land and the built environment, and reducing wasted heat loss and unnecessary infrastructure.

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No Assault & Batteries consulted with Mass Audubon, the Harvard Forest, the advocacy network Trees As A Public Good and information from state Sen. Jo Comerford, D-Northampton, to compile the 50 potential policy statements. The list can be found at tinyurl.com/yc48ay7v.

A full description of this series of public meetings is online at tinyurl.com/StakeholderSessions.

Reach Domenic Poli at: dpoli@recorder.com or
413-930-4120.