From: Andra Rose <amherstamr@gmail.com>
Sent: Thursday, June 6, 2019 3:35 PM
To: RPS, DOER (ENE)
Subject: RPS Class I and RPS Class II Rulemaking - 225 CMR 14.00 and
225 CMR 15.00 - Mothers Out Front Stakeholder Comments
June 6, 2019
Massachusetts Department of Energy Resources
Attn: John Wassam
100 Cambridge Street, Suite 1020
Boston, MA 02114
--- submitted electronically via doer.rps@mass.gov ---
Re: RPS Class I and RPS Class II Rulemaking - 225 CMR 14.00 and 225 CMR 15.00 - Mothers Out Front Stakeholder Comments
Dear Mr. Wassam:
We, the mothers of Massachusetts’ children, thank you for the opportunity to provide comments regarding the proposed changes to Massachusetts’ Renewable Portfolio Standard (“RPS”) Class I and RPS Class II Regulations. Mothers Out Front is a national grassroots organization committed to creating a swift, just and complete transition to a clean energy future for our children. We have over 7000 members in Massachusetts alone.
We oppose the changes the Department of Energy Resources has proposed to the Renewable Portfolio Standard Class I and Class II regulations. Wood burning power plants harm our children’s health, as they do the earth’s. Environmental justice communities are particularly impacted because biomass plants sited in their neighborhoods add to existing health threats. Wood burning electricity generation would increase our state’s GHG emissions. Woody biomass is not renewable in the short window we have for dramatically reducing the carbon intensity of our electricity.
We oppose the rule changes for the following
reasons:
We count on the DOER to do what is right for our children’s future and their health. Taxpayers contribute an estimated $10 to $12 million per year to subsidize clean renewable energy. We must not be forced to pay incentives for dirty energy that damages our health and the health of the planet, which we now know are closely connected. We urge you not to implement the proposed changes to the RPS.
Thank you,
Andra Rose, for Massachusetts Mothers Out Front