ANDOVER — Emissions from a proposed power plant in Billerica could carry into West Andover, according to a study conducted this summer.
Residents can learn more about the Billerica Energy Center, a natural gas-burning power plant proposed along the Billerica/Tewksbury line, tomorrow night at Memorial Hall Library. A forum will be there at 7 p.m., by opponents of the power plant proposal.
"People are pretty surprised that they didn't know about something this large coming to the area, especially since it has impact far beyond the actual site," said Paige Impink, a Tewksbury resident and opponent of the power plant. "It's very unsettling to people."
Impink, who lives about one mile from where the power plant would be built on 134 Billerica Ave. in North Billerica, said residents from Billerica, Tewksbury, Chelmsford and Lowell have already voiced their opposition of the power plant.
Impink said the plant would be built on land zoned for industrial use that is surrounded by residential development and not far from Interstate 495 and the Concord River, which feeds into the Merrimack River.
According to a public report conducted by Environmental Health and Engineering Inc., plant emissions would include low levels of nitrogen dioxide and particulate matter.
Because prevailing winds blow northeast, the emissions could affect Andover, according to the report.
The power plant, which would only operate during times of peak energy use, must still be approved by the state and Billerica's Conservation, Planning, Zoning and Health boards.
Impink said an Oct. 2 public hearing before the state Energy Facilities Siting Board has been extended to later this month.
Tewksbury also has voiced its opposition to the proposal with the state.
"At this critical juncture, we strongly urge that you refrain from putting the residents of Tewksbury in harms way and deny the application," wrote Tewksbury Town Manager David Cressman and members of the Tewksbury Board of Selectmen in a Sept. 16 letter to the siting board.
Andover Health Director Tom Carbone, who will attend the meeting this week, said he is not presently concerned about the proposed power plant.
"I'm not concerned at the moment," said Carbone. "I know I'm looking forward to learning more about what's happening."
