From: Alison M. Leary <aleary@newtonma.gov>
Sent: Thursday, June 6, 2019 2:01 PM
To: RPS, DOER (ENE)
Cc: John.Lawn@mahouse.gov; Robert.DeLeo@mahouse.gov;
Karen.Spilka@masenate.gov; Ruthanne Fuller; cynthia.creem@masenate.gov; Emily
Norton; hbrown@clarku.edu
Subject: RPS Class I and RPS Class II Rulemaking - 225 CMR 14.00 and
225 CMR 15.00
Massachusetts Department of Energy
Resources
Attn: John Wassam
100 Cambridge Street, Suite 1020
Boston, MA 02114
It has come to my attention that the Baker Administration is considering
changes to the Massachusetts’ Renewable Portfolio Standard (“RPS”) Class I and
RPS Class II Regulations. The proposed change includes renewable energy
regulations to increase incentives for biomass and trash incinerators in
Massachusetts. I am very unhappy about DOER’s proposals. These are
contrary to all our climate goals. Burning woody biomass and incinerating trash
for electricity without adequate lifecycle standards results in GHG emissions
that undercut climate gains. These technologies also cause harmful local air
pollution that compromises public health.
Burning garbage is not “clean.”
Garbage burners emit more carbon dioxide and conventional air pollutants
per unit of energy than coal plants, and are significant sources of hazardous
emissions such as mercury, dioxin, volatile organic compounds (VOCs), and heavy
metals. They are also very expensive to operate. In fact, it is one of the most
inefficient and expensive methods to dispose of trash which is why the
incinerator industry is perpetually seeking additional renewable energy
subsidies – even though they already receive revenue from both tipping fees and
sales of electricity. We are already producing some 750,000 tons of incinerator
ash containing heavy metals, furans, and dioxin each year, which must be
disposed of rapidly dwindling landfills.
Weakening standards to allow more burning
is short sighted, counterproductive and a simply a very poor policy decision
which is a direct result of our failure to achieve more sustainable
solutions to our “use it once and throw it out” consumer mentality. We can and
must do better.
Kind regards,
Alison M. Leary
Newton City Council
Ward 1
617-821-5619
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