From:                                         Anna Goldman <anna.l.goldman@gmail.com>

Sent:                                           Tuesday, June 4, 2019 11:51 AM

To:                                               RPS, DOER (ENE)

Subject:                                     Comment on DOER Proposal

 

Dear Mr. Wassam,

I deeply oppose the proposed changes to RPS Class I and RPS Class II regulations (the DOER proposal) that would weaken restrictions on the burning of wood as an energy source. I am a mother of two and a primary care doctor.  I have read the research on wood-burning and can see clearly that it negatively impacts health and is a clear step in the wrong direction for climate change.  In fact, it is worse than coal, according to this peer-reviewed research study.  Why would we take such a big step backwards?!    Burning wood for energy would worsen emissions of climate pollutants while diminishing the capacity of forests to absorb those pollutants. 

 

I write as a doctor of many people with respiratory diseases, who would be particularly affected, and a mother of two kids.  Communities across Massachusetts are counting on you to keep our air clean and take steps to lessen the impacts of climate change.  Please seriously consider how this proposal will impact our health and our future.  I urge you not to allow the proposed changes to move forward.

 

Thank you,

Anna L. Goldman, MD