Articles from John Appleton, The Republican

1. Ware hires PDS Engineering & Construction of Connecticut as contractor for $7 million new fire station Explore masslive.com (Oct 31 2011) Selectmen have hired a contractor for the $7 million fire station construction project. Demolition work has been going on at the 200 West St. site by Associated Building Wreckers of Springfield and was nearly finished Friday as workers were grinding up some of the debris to be used as fill. The Board of Selectmen voted unanimously Oct. 24 to hire PDS Engineering & Construction, Inc., of Bloomfield, Conn., as the general contractor at a price of $5.4 million. (Read Full Article)

   Comment Mentions:   Springfield   The Republican

2. Western Massachusetts railroad improvements will cut travel time between Connecticut and Vermont Explore masslive.com (Oct 20 2011) Transportation Improvements on the Pan Am Rail line from Springfield to Northfield in the next two years will allow the Amtrak’s Vermonter line to move back to its original route, reduce travel time and restore passenger service to Northampton and Greenfield, the nation’s top railroad official said Thursday. (Read Full Article)

   Comment Mentions:   William Martin   Amtrak   Springfield

3. Massachusetts tornadoes bring building boom to affected communities including Wilbraham, Monson, Springfield Explore masslive.com (Oct 2 2011) The tornadoes that blew through Western and Central Massachusetts on June 1 damaged homes, businesses and government buildings in Westfield, West Springfield, Springfield, Wilbraham, Monson, Brimfield, Sturbridge, Southbridge and Charlton along a 39-mile stretch. (Read Full Article)

   Comment Mentions:   Springfield   Westfield   The Republican

4. Hampshire Council of Governments helps with solar projects Explore masslive.com (Sep 28 2011) Energy , Green Region The Hampshire Council of Governments became involved as a broker of solar renewable energy credits, which can be sold to utility companies that need to show a certain amount of renewable energy sources for the power they distribute in Massachusetts. (Read Full Article)

   Comment Mentions:   Greenfield   The Republican

5. Hampshire Council of Governments seeks funds for Old Hampshire Courthouse renovations Explore masslive.com (Aug 24 2011) The Hampshire Council of Governments is seeking state, municipal and private funding for $3.5 million worth of renovations at the Old Hampshire County Courthouse at 99 Main St. (Read Full Article)

   Comment Mentions:   Northampton   The Republican

6. Hampshire Council of Governments hires Eric Weiss to coordinate sustainable energy efforts Explore masslive.com (Jun 28 2011) Energy , Green Region Eric L. Weiss was appointed by the council to work on sustainable energy issues for the towns. Weiss is the administrator for the Hilltown Resource Management Cooperative, which runs recycling and waste management programs for seven towns. (Read Full Article)

   Comment Mentions:   Springfield   Northampton   The Republican

7. Hampshire Council of Governments applies to become default electricity supplier to 22 communities Explore masslive.com (Jun 28 2011) Energy Kenneth E. Elstein, the electricity specialist for the Council of Governments, said all residential and business customers will have the option of staying with their current suppliers, National Grid or Western Massachusetts Electric Co., but the alternative program will guarantee a lower price initially. (Read Full Article)

   Comment Mentions:   Western Massachusetts Electric Company   The Republican   Easthampton

8. Pioneer Valley Planning Commission to host hearing on water infrastructure Explore masslive.com (Oct 29 2010) This commission is looking at fair and equitable means of financing water infrastructure investments, including the role of fees, rates, taxes, loans, grants and other financial vehicles; conservation and efficiency programs and the potential for savings through consolidation, coordination, reorganization, or regionalization. (Read Full Article)

   Comment Mentions:   Pioneer Valley Planning Commission   Michael D. Bissonnette   Springfield

9. State officials present certificates of Green Communities grant eligibility to Athol, Greenfield, Montague and Palmer Explore masslive.com (Sep 29 2010) Green Region “Greenfield, Athol, Palmer and Montague are among the commonwealth’s municipal clean energy pacesetters, setting an example for the many other cities and towns we hope will meet the criteria to be Green Communities and apply for our next round of grants next year,” Energy Resources Commissioner Phil Giudice said during the ceremony. Thirty-five of the state’s 351 cities and towns qualified for Green Communities status earlier this year and will share in the first round of $8.1 million in grants. Belchertown, Easthampton, Holyoke, Northampton and Springfield also made the list. (Read Full Article)

   Comment Mentions:   Springfield   Northampton   Greenfield

10. Belchertown officials enthusiastic about Weston Solutions potential to develop former state school parcel Explore masslive.com (Jul 27 2010) The town’s economic development board and selectmen are enthusiastic that a potential buyer and master developer of a large portion of the former Belchertown State School has the resources and experience to build housing, shops, offices and an assisted-living facility there. (Read Full Article)

    Comment Mentions:   Governor Deval L. Patrick   MassDevelopment   The Republican

11. Town officials hope MassDevelopment can help them market former Belchertown State School property Explore masslive.com (Jun 17 2010) After years of working as a group of volunteers trying to bring major development projects to the former Belchertown State School property, the town development corporation is entering an agreement with experts at MassDevelopment who have experience with large projects throughout the state. (Read Full Article)

    Comment Mentions:   MassDevelopment   Northampton   The Republican

12. Study: Burning biomass for electricity creates more greenhouse gas than coal Explore masslive.com (Jun 10 2010) Energy The Manomet Center for Conservation Sciences study shows burning trees and other biomass for heating would reduce greenhouse gas emissions compared to oil. (Read Full Article)

    Comment Mentions:   Governor Deval L. Patrick   Russell Biomass   William Martin

13. Springfield in line for $900,000 to $1 million in Massachusetts Green Communities grants Explore masslive.com (May 28 2010) Green Region Mayor Domenic J. Sarno said Friday he wants to use the city’s share of the $8.1 million grant pool to expand the existing policy of buying fuel-efficient vehicles and put some of the funds into renovating and enlarging the Clifford A. Phaneuf Environmental Center in Forest Park. (Read Full Article)

    Comment Mentions:   Domenic J. Sarno   Governor Deval L. Patrick   Springfield

14. Holyoke, Northampton, Springfield among qualifiers for Massachusetts' Green Communities grants pool Explore masslive.com (May 25 2010) Green Region Eight Pioneer Valley communities are among the 35 cities and towns in the state that qualified Tuesday for portions of a new $8.1 million Green Communities pool of grants for energy efficiency upgrades. (Read Full Article)

    Comment Mentions:   Springfield   Northampton   Greenfield

15. Belchertown selectmen want the town and MassDevelopment to help develop former Belchertown State School land Explore masslive.com (Mar 29 2010) Education The Board of Selectmen is supporting plans to link the town with its Economic Development Industrial Corp. and the quasi-public agency MassDevelopment in working jointly on demolition and decontamination at the former Belchertown State School campus. (Read Full Article)

    Comment Mentions:   The Republican

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