From: Diane Simpson <simpsond65@gmail.com>
Sent: Friday, July 26, 2019 9:08 AM
To: RPS, DOER (ENE)
Subject: Rolling Back the RPS Standards Not a Good Idea
Good morning, Mr. Wassam,
I was alerted by my neighbor to DOER's plan to lower some of the criteria for
our Renewable Portfolio Standards.
Parts of the new standards militate against the stong science-based standards
that Massachusetts adopted in 2012 recognizing the environmental and public
health impacts of biomass energy.
The changes would mean that the proposed Palmer biomass facility for East
Springfield would qualify forevermore for $5 to $10 million annually in
renewable energy credits, while adding more air pollution to a low-income
community already burdened with alarmingly high rates of heart disease, asthma,
diabetes, cancer, and other chronic health issues. Did you realize that
Springfield has been named “Asthma Capital of the U.S.” by the Asthma and
Allergy Foundation of America? And the American Lung Association rated Hampden
County worst in the state for its high ozone levels in its 2018 “State of the
Air” report?
Our state is currently the only one that considers greenhouse gas emissions as
criteria for biomass eligibility in its renewable portfolio standard. Not a
shining example!
Massachusetts has always been a leader in Green Energy. Now is not the time to
go backwards.
--Diane(:^[
FRIENDLY BOARD ADMINISTRATOR EMERITA
Capitalism that is not responsibly
regulated consumes itself...AND THE ENVIRONMENT
= = = = = = = = = = = = = = =
DIANE SIMPSON |
TREASURER-SECRETARY BROOKSIDE NEIGHBORHOOD ASSOCIATION
65 CORNWALL
STREET—JAMAICA
PLAIN COHOUSING
PHONE:
617-522-2209 | TEXT: 857- 288-8449