Blandford Planning Board Approves PVPC Contract Despite Conflict-of-Interest Concerns

BLANDFORD -- August 6, 2025, Blandford Planning Board unanimously approves two contracts as solar applications mount. The newly reconstituted board voted to renew its service agreement with the Pioneer Valley Planning Commission on an as-needed basis and approved a $6,500 contract with Comprehensive Environmental Incorporated to peer-review a proposed solar installation at 30 Huntington Road. A resident named Colleen argued at length before the PVPC vote that the regional agency functions as an instrument of state policy, citing its involvement in producing a Master Resilience Plan she said preceded a federal solar-siting study identifying Blandford as a prime location for commercial development. The board acknowledged the concern but said the contract costs nothing unless services are actually used. Two solar applications, at 89 Chester Road and 39 Huntington Road, are in active review, a 50-megawatt project near the Eversource substation is on hold after DEP found wetlands improperly delineated, and Mission Clean Energy is scheduled to present its 200-megawatt proposal to a joint board meeting August 11. A special town meeting is tentatively planned for September 22 where residents will vote on three non-binding questions about whether the town should spend resources opposing Eversource, a second energy company, and solar farm development.