Lt. Gov. to speak at annual rural, western Mass. conference on May 2

Lt. Gov. Kim Driscoll will kick off the annual Rural and Western Massachusetts Conference on Saturday, May 2, in Holyoke.

The event, open to all MMA members, is hosted annually by the Massachusetts Select Board Association and focuses on the unique challenges and opportunities facing municipalities in rural and western Massachusetts.

In addition to remarks from the lieutenant governor, the agenda includes an update from the Massachusetts Director of Rural Affairs Anne Gobi and a legislative panel featuring Sen. Joanne Comerford and Rep. Aaron Saunders.

The conference will also feature a session on clean energy siting and permitting led by the Massachusetts Department of Energy Resources. The session will cover the new statewide energy siting and permitting process. Municipalities must begin accepting applications using the new process by Oct. 1. Attendees will leave with an understanding of what steps their municipality needs to take to be in compliance.

Registration is available at www.mma.org.

Registration and breakfast will open at 8 a.m. The program will begin at 8:30 and will conclude at noon with a networking lunch. The cost to attend is $25.

The event will be held at the Delaney House, located at 3 Country Club Road in Holyoke.