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Council keeps National Grid pole petitions open after residents raise outreach concerns
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Summary
Leominster councilors continued two related National Grid petitions to install and replace utility poles on Marguerite Avenue after the utility confirmed work to serve a solar customer but had not reached all abutters. The hearings were continued so residents can be contacted and questions answered.
Carrie Noseworthy, chair of the public service subcommittee, opened the meeting and summarized petition 38-26, in which Massachusetts Electric Company (doing business as National Grid) and Verizon New England request permission to locate poles, wires and fixtures on Marguerite Avenue (plan number 30527234, 01/19/2026). The committee then heard from a National Grid representative introduced at the meeting as Nico.
Nico told the subcommittee the work is part of an interconnection for a solar customer (identified in the discussion as ClearPath Energy) and that the project scope includes replacing about 13 poles and installing two new poles — one tap pole and one for a capacitor bank intended to regulate voltage. "The scope of the project involves replacing 13 poles and installing 2 new poles," Nico said, and explained the design work was performed by Leidos Engineering and that National Grid personnel were present to respond to residents' questions.
Several councilors stressed that the utility had not completed outreach to all abutters who spoke at the prior meeting. A ward councilor clarified that a nearby car wash is affected by petition 38-26 (Marguerite & Lancaster) rather than petition 39-26 (Marguerite & Lincoln Terrace), noting residents remained confused about which petition applied to which locations. Chair Noseworthy said she had asked the clerk to provide National Grid with a list of constituents who raised concerns and urged the utility to contact them before the council moves the petitions forward.
Because National Grid staff confirmed follow-up had not been completed for every resident, the subcommittee voted to keep the public hearings open and reschedule continuation to allow abutter outreach and a public service subcommittee meeting to review responses.
What happens next: The subcommittee set continued public hearings for both petitions at the council's April 27 meeting and requested that National Grid report back confirming that affected residents and businesses were contacted and their questions answered.
