Grid Line Hearing Continued to November 12

Conservation Commission · Meeting of October 22, 2026

Shutesbury's Conservation Commission continued a hearing on New England Power's 67-mile transmission line rebuild to November 12 after members pressed for more detail on tree removal and wetland impacts. Consultant Teresa Portante of BSC Group said construction in town will likely run 2028 through 2034, with restoration into 2035, and that the project is seeking a hardship waiver for work near state-designated Outstanding Resource Waters. Member Michael Tommie McDuffie argued project maps show "clear cutting" through four wetlands and two vernal pools despite assurances of selective pruning, saying crews "are not out of compliance because the FEIR will say that they can do it." The commission also voted 4-0 to formally issue an order of conditions for the Southbrook Trail Improvement Project and approved a small-project permit for hedge removal at 19 South Laurel Drive.

A separate rewrite of hunting regulations on conservation land, prompted by a corrected reading of state law requiring affirmative permission to hunt on municipal land, also carries over to November 12.

In the full story:

• Opening business and Southbrook correction
• National Grid/New England Power transmission line Notice of Intent
• Administrative approval: 19 South Laurel Drive hedge removal
• Hunting and fishing regulations on conservation land
• Who Was There
• Organizations And Documents Referenced
• The complete report: 2,464 words

Source: the Conservation Commission meeting of October 22, 2026, reported from the official video recording and transcript.

Checked against the record: before publication this article was automatically compared with the meeting transcript. It was corrected where it differed.