Blandford Board Eyes Special Town Meeting as Energy Projects Seek State Bypass

BLANDFORD -- June 30, 2025, Blandford Select Board moves toward special town meeting on three energy projects, appoints interim water chief. The board, meeting jointly with the Water Commission on June 30, voted unanimously to appoint Steve Grondon as interim water superintendent at a negotiated split rate, and spent the bulk of the session debating a $64 million Eversource substation expansion petition that board members said bypassed local zoning review entirely by going directly to a state siting committee. Two proposed battery energy storage facilities, a 50-megawatt project by Exis Renewables and a 200-megawatt facility from an unidentified developer, both on North Blandford Road near the town reservoir, added to concerns. David Droz of Exis Renewables participated by phone, citing ongoing work with peer reviewer Salvini and Associates. The board agreed to pursue a non-binding special town meeting with three separate warrant questions on commercial solar, battery storage, and the Eversource expansion, targeting the week of July 21. The board also accepted the resignation of Paul Martin from both the Planning Board and the Board of Assessors effective June 30, with a 90-day Planning Board decision clock on two large solar applications having started June 4.