SPRINGFIELD, Mass. (WGGB) –  The City Council passed two resolutions that oppose building a biomass plant off Page Blvd. at the Palmer Paving Corporation.   One urges the Building Commissioner to not issue a building permit to Palmer Renewable Energy.  The second says a special permit should be required for them to build.

“The City Council is the special permit granting authority in the city and we feel this project needs a special permit to be build,” said John Lysak, City Councilor.

The company wants to build a incinerator to burn green wood chips to create electricity.

Several groups who oppose the biomass plant say it will create too much pollution.  Those groups have filed an appeal with the Massachusetts Department of Environmental Protection hoping to prevent the company from obtaining their Air Permit.   They can not operate the plant without that permit.

Palmer Renewable Energy tells abc40/fox6 they are “Confident that this permit, and the science underlying DEP’s decision, will be upheld in due course.”

The two resolutions the council passed are non-binding, however they will meet again next Monday to see how as a full body they can legally appeal the permit the City Building Commissioner issued.