From:                                         Bradley Hubbard-Nelson <bradhn@mindspring.com>

Sent:                                           Tuesday, July 16, 2019 3:18 PM

To:                                               RPS, DOER (ENE)

Subject:                                     Objection to adding biomass to the renewable portfolio standard (RPS)

 

Wednesday July 16th 2019

 

To the commissioner,

We object to adding wood-chip biomass into the Renewable Power Standard, for a number of reasons outlined below.  Upon conderation, the Concord Municipal Light Board decided that it would not purchase power from the proposed Palmer Biomass facility, with many of these arguments made.

Summary of objections:

        1)    Biomass is not a low-emissions fuel source, for a number of reasons

a.     Relatively low efficiency plant

b.     CO2 emissions higher than coal, oil or natural gas

c.     Energy intensive to harvest and prepare fuel

d.     Replacement trees take several decades to regrow 

        2)    Wood biomass is being considered for the RPS, which is a bad idea for several reasons

a.     Previous administration decided not to include it, because it isn’t carbon neutral

b.     Exportation of biomass to the UK (since included in their equivalent of RPS) is devastating parts of the southeast US. This could happen here

c.     Biomass industry presents itself as ‘environmentally friendly’ but it considers forest resources not put to productive use as lost income. 

        3)    We are currently in a biodiversity crash (“the sixth extinction) during our lifetime

a.     Population of wild vertebrates and insects down by 70% from 30 years ago

b.     Million species may be lost in next decades

c.     Need for wildlife corridors to be expanded and protected (EO Wilson)

d.     Growing wood chip market will put pressure on forests throughout New England 

        4)    Wood chip biomass emits particulate emissions

a.     PM2.5 levels lead to higher levels of Asthma

b.     Why biomass plant being planed for disadvantaged communities

c.     Original intention was to burn construction and demolition debris, aggravating emissions

In sumary, we commend Belmont, Concord, Holden and Middleborough municipal utilities for deciding against the purchase of biomass electricity.

We ask the Baker administration to not add wood chip biomass to the Renewable Power Standard.

 

Bradley Hubbard-Nelson (bradhn@mindspring.com)

221 Nashawtuc Rd

Concord MA 01742 

Concord Sustainability and Energy Committee