http://www.stopspewingcarbon.org Clean energy doesn't come out of a smokestack Wed, 04 Apr 2012 05:13:14 +0000 en-US hourly 1 http://wordpress.org/?v=3.4.1 http://www.stopspewingcarbon.org/public-hearing-june-30-2010/ http://www.stopspewingcarbon.org/public-hearing-june-30-2010/#comments Thu, 12 Jan 2012 14:27:36 +0000 SSC http://www.ecolaw.biz/stopspewingcarbon/?p=91
MassDEP, in conjunction with the Massachusetts Department of Public Health, is assessing the public health and environmental impacts of using wood derived from construction, renovation, and demolition debris as a fuel for electricity generation.

Wednesday, June 30, 2010
6:00-7:30 pm
Old Town Hall
1458 County Street (Route 138)
Somerset, MA]]> http://www.stopspewingcarbon.org/public-hearing-june-30-2010/feed/ 3 http://www.stopspewingcarbon.org/facts/ http://www.stopspewingcarbon.org/facts/#comments Thu, 12 Jan 2012 14:11:08 +0000 SSC http://www.ecolaw.biz/stopspewingcarbon/?p=78 #1… Wood fueled biomass power plants emit about 50% more CO2 per MWh than existing coal plants, 150% more than existing natural gas plants, and 330% more than new natural gas power plants.

WOOD FUELED BIOMASS vs. FOSSIL FUEL POWER PLANTS


#2… Incinerating biomass in power plants creates more particulate matter (PM) than coal burning. Particulate matter is associated with asthma, heart disease, and cancer — as well as nitrogen oxides (NOx) and volatile organic compounds (VOCs) — two ingredients of the ground-level ozone that causes asthma in children and exacerbates pulmonary and cardiac disease problems.

#3… Five proposed biomass incinerators in Massachusetts would consume the equivalent of 50 football fields of trees every day.

#4… Massachusetts already gets 49% of its renewable energy from polluting biomass incinerators.

#5… Truly clean, zero waste renewable energy sources such as solar, wind, tidal, and small hydro-electric are the future of Massachusetts energy production. There are also many simple efficiency and conservation measures that can be easily implemented, costing ratepayers and taxpayers far less than new power plant production.]]> http://www.stopspewingcarbon.org/facts/feed/ 0 http://www.stopspewingcarbon.org/ma-biomass-regs-arent-strong-enough/ http://www.stopspewingcarbon.org/ma-biomass-regs-arent-strong-enough/#comments Thu, 12 Jan 2012 11:24:28 +0000 SSC http://www.ecolaw.biz/stopspewingcarbon/?p=47 Rally/Press Conference Urges Governor & Lt. Governor to Limit Biomass Subsidies A statewide coalition of environmental, health and social justice groups is asking Governor Patrick and Lt. Governor Murray to stand by the Administration’s 2010 pledge to limit ratepayer–funded incentives for biomass combustion power plants that burn wood for electricity. In the past 2 years, residents from across the state have signed over 135,000 petitions, postcards, letters and emails asking for stronger laws. Some groups are demanding a complete moratorium on state permits for biomass electricity until outstanding questions about health and climate change impacts are answered.

“The proposed regulations are a clear retreat from the sound science on biomass energy commissioned by the Administration and funded by Massachusetts taxpayers,” said James McCaffrey, Director of the Sierra Club’s Massachusetts’ Chapter. “We can only assume industry played a role in getting the Administration to back off its commitment to protect our forests, the environment, and public health. Massachusetts ratepayers should not be paying more for dirty, polluting forms of energy that worsen the impacts of climate change.”

“After working hand-in-hand with the Patrick Administration to bring biomass energy incentives into line with the science-based analysis the Administration itself commissioned, we are dismayed to witness their swift retreat in the face of pressure from certain biomass industry interests,” said Sue Reid, Director of Conservation Law Foundation-Massachusetts. “These recent developments call into question the commitment to build a true clean energy economy.”

“Today we’re delivering 5,000 more petitions to the Patrick Administration. People are still outraged about these incinerators that burn trees for electricity. They have worse air pollution than coal and don’t deserve our clean energy money,” said Meg Sheehan, who ran the campaign in 2010 to get a ballot question to keep biomass combustion electricity out of the state’s renewable portfolio standard.

Toxics Action Project Center’s Director Sylvia Brodie said, “Common sense tells us burning wood is a significant source of particulate matter in our air. These fine particles can lodge in our lungs and cause breathing problems and disease. This is not something that we should be subsidizing.”

Last year, Massachusetts Medical Society urged the Legislature to “remove government incentives for biomass combustion electricity plants.” American Lung Association also opposes incentives, saying, “burning biomass could lead to significant increases in emissions of nitrogen oxides, particulate matter and sulfur dioxide and have severe impacts on the health of children, older adults, and people with lung diseases.”

Over twenty-four groups are calling for stronger regulations: Sierra Club, Conservation Law Foundation, Mass Audubon, Toxics Action Center, Clean Water Action Alliance of Massachusetts, Environmental League of Massachusetts, American Lung Association in New England, Environment Massachusetts, MassPIRG, Chelsea Creek Action Group, Massachusetts Breast Cancer Coalition, Natural Resources of Maine, Natural Resources Defense Council, The Wilderness Society, Clean Air Task Force, Greenpeace, Massachusetts Forest Watch, Concerned Citizens of Franklin County, Massachusetts, Concerned Citizens of Russell, Massachusetts, ARISE for Social Justice, Springfield, Massachusetts, Stop Toxic Incineration in Springfield, Partnership for Policy Integrity, Jones River Watershed Association, and the Massachusetts Climate Action Network.

Act Now! Tell Governor Deval Patrick and Lt. Governor Tim Murray to strengthen the biomass regulations.

1. Restore the 15% limit on harvested forest wood that can be used as eligible biomass fuel,
2. Fix the carbon accounting flaw
3. Require biomass units to achieve 60% efficiency, and
4. Keep the 2015 deadline for compliance by existing biomass units.

Email: Send a message
Call: 617-725-4005 or 888-870-7770 (in state)
Or write:
Governor Deval Patrick, State House, Room 280, Boston, MA 02133
Lt. Governor Tim Murray, State House, Room 280, Boston, MA 02133

Massachusetts has taken a strong step forward in recognizing that biomass combustion for electricity can undermine greenhouse gas reduction targets and harm forests. The state commissioned the Manomet Study and in July, 2010 announced its intent to align the Renewable Portfolio Standard with the Global Warming Solutions Act.

Instead of issuing regulations that are consistent with the July, 2010 letter, the Department of Energy Resources, under Secretary Rick Sullivan, wrote regulations that are too weak. These May, 2011 regulations have sparked serious concern from leading public interest advocates (see letters below):

Multi-Group Letter (PDF):
Conservation Law Foundation
Mass Audubon
Environmental League of Massachusetts
Clean Water Action Alliance of Massachusetts
American Lung Association in Massachusetts
Environment Massachusetts
Massachusetts Climate Action Network
Massachusetts Breast Cancer Coalition
Partnership for Policy Integrity
Biomass Accountability Project
Toxics Action Center Campaigns
Natural Resources Council of Maine
Natural Resources Defense Council
Sierra Club Massachusetts Chapter

Other group letters:
The Wilderness Society (PDF)
Partnership for Policy Integrity (PDF)
Clean Air Task Force (PDF)
The Fletcher School, Tufts University (PDF)

The process for approving the biomass regulations required the state Legislature’s joint committee on Telecommunications, Utilities and Energy to review them and issue a report. The report was issued on June 10, 2011: Report of the Committee on Proposed Final Woody Biomass Eligibility Regulation (PDF)

Thanks for your help. If you have any questions, give us a call at 800-729-1363.]]> http://www.stopspewingcarbon.org/ma-biomass-regs-arent-strong-enough/feed/ 0 http://www.stopspewingcarbon.org/environmental-groups-say-ma-biomass-reg-weak/ http://www.stopspewingcarbon.org/environmental-groups-say-ma-biomass-reg-weak/#comments Thu, 22 Sep 2011 03:57:56 +0000 SSC http://www.ecolaw.biz/stopspewingcarbon/?p=103 Go to article →]]> http://www.stopspewingcarbon.org/environmental-groups-say-ma-biomass-reg-weak/feed/ 0 http://www.stopspewingcarbon.org/mass-residents-gather-at-state-house/ http://www.stopspewingcarbon.org/mass-residents-gather-at-state-house/#comments Wed, 21 Sep 2011 06:32:48 +0000 SSC http://www.ecolaw.biz/stopspewingcarbon/?p=108 Go to article →]]> http://www.stopspewingcarbon.org/mass-residents-gather-at-state-house/feed/ 0 http://www.stopspewingcarbon.org/environmental-coalition-presses-governor-to-beef-up-biomass-regulations/ http://www.stopspewingcarbon.org/environmental-coalition-presses-governor-to-beef-up-biomass-regulations/#comments Wed, 21 Sep 2011 06:31:00 +0000 SSC http://www.ecolaw.biz/stopspewingcarbon/?p=106 Go to article →]]> http://www.stopspewingcarbon.org/environmental-coalition-presses-governor-to-beef-up-biomass-regulations/feed/ 0 http://www.stopspewingcarbon.org/mass-activists-call-for-tough-wood-power-rules/ http://www.stopspewingcarbon.org/mass-activists-call-for-tough-wood-power-rules/#comments Sat, 17 Sep 2011 14:34:55 +0000 SSC http://www.ecolaw.biz/stopspewingcarbon/?p=99 Go to article →]]> http://www.stopspewingcarbon.org/mass-activists-call-for-tough-wood-power-rules/feed/ 0 http://www.stopspewingcarbon.org/the-wilderness-society-letter-on-biomass/ http://www.stopspewingcarbon.org/the-wilderness-society-letter-on-biomass/#comments Wed, 15 Jun 2011 06:34:23 +0000 SSC http://www.ecolaw.biz/stopspewingcarbon/?p=111 Download PDF →]]> http://www.stopspewingcarbon.org/the-wilderness-society-letter-on-biomass/feed/ 0