On Monday, April 6, at 7 PM, the Plainfield Select Board will meet with community members at the Plainfield Opera House to consider signing a form required by the USDA in order to secure a loan to begin construction on Goddard College’s proposed biomass plant, to be located at the intersection of Route 214 and Sugarwood Rd.

When the Vermont Supreme Court ruled in favor of Goddard last November, it did acknowledge that there would be an “adverse impact” on the neighborhood, but that that impact would not be “undue”—the legal standard for overturning the permit.

In fact, Goddard too recognizes the adverse impact and has taken steps to minimize it—for its own buildings. At the original Act 250 hearing, the project’s architect testified that an alternative site was rejected because of its proximity to the historic Manor House, “the prettiest building on campus.”

The neighbors, who do not oppose the plant itself but only its location—only 200 feet from the nearest home—wonder why Goddard considers the impact acceptable for their pretty buildings, but unacceptable for Goddard’s pretty buildings.

Goddard surely knows by now that they erred in not collaborating with its nearest neighbors during the design period. They have damaged their “brand” as a responsible member of the community and cost themselves time and money by taking a litigious rather than a cooperative approach to their planning.

The Select Board now has an opportunity to encourage Goddard to do better. If they would use this moment to provide an incentive to re-site the plant, Goddard could count on their neighbors’ support.