Sudbury's Fight With Eversource Sparks Up: Town Hires Lawyer

SUDBURY, MA—It is likely to be a long and complicated process, but officials are not backing down in its fight against power lines proposed to run through town.

The Sudbury Board of Selectmen announced this week that it has retained additional Special Counsel to aid in the battle against the proposed Eversource reliability line in Sudbury, officials said in an announcement.

Jeffrey Bernstein of BCK Law, formerly the Director of the Massachusetts Legislative Energy Development Caucus, is representing the town, and has vast experience at the Energy Facilities Siting Board.

“The selectmen wanted to make certain that they had the best legal team possible so we can hit the ground running when Eversource files with the siting board,” Town Manager Melissa Rodrigues said in a statement. “This year we have spent over $100,000 in legal fees to start preparing for what will be a complicated and expensive legal process. The town will be voting on additional funds at Town Meeting so we can continue to work with experts and attorneys to position the town in the best possible way.”

“We are excited to have Attorney Bernstein on the team,” Chairwoman Susan Iuliano said in a statement. “Working with him and Kopelman and Paige, I feel confident that we will be prepared to oppose the project at the siting board.”

“I was thrilled to have Attorney Bernstein in our corner,” said Selectmen Robert Haarde in a statement. “After researching him and seeing his experience at the siting board, I know that we have assembled a top notch legal team.”

The Town of Sudbury continues to oppose any project along the MBTA right of way, with the town manager indicating the town will not accept any project that comes with a power line running through conservation land, along back yards and endangering its way of life.

The MBTA had made substantial modifications to their option with Eversource based on feedback received from local and state officials and residents, said the release. The option, which is for nine million dollars, allows only sub-surface transmission lines. The option also requires Eversource to work with DCR to create a rail trail. They allowed a wide easement to help Eversource avoid wetland impacts.

In conversations with the Town, Janelle Chan stated that if an overhead line was awarded at the Energy Facilities Siting Board, MassDot and Eversource would revisit the option to discuss a potential option for an overhead project, said the announcement.

The letter from Janelle Chan is available here.

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