From: Paola Massoli <paolamassoli4@gmail.com>
Sent: Monday, June 3, 2019 8:28 PM
To: RPS, DOER (ENE)
Subject: comments to the proposed changes in the RPS class I &
II rulemaking (225 CMR 14.00 and 225 CMR 15.00)
Dear John Wassam,
My name is Paola Massoli, and I live in East
Somerville.
I am writing to strongly oppose the proposed
changes to RPS Class I and Class II regulations that would weaken restrictions
on the use of wood bioenergy. The Class I renewables we have in
Massachusetts are a precious instrument that should be used to promote the
growth of clean renewable energy. Class I (and II) should remain as
clean as possible. In fairness, ALL wood (and trash) burning should be deemed too
dirty to qualify for renewable energy credits in the Massachusetts RPS, and
even the Alternate Portfolio Standard (APS).
It is known that combustion
emissions from biomass burning pose severe risks for human health. High levels
of particulate matter, dioxins and other toxic gases get emitted from
incinerators; these facilities are often located in low income and
environmental justice communities, exacerbating the health outcome of a
population that is already taking the brunt of our cumulative pollution. We
should not build incinerators. We should rapidly develop megawatts of offshore
wind instead.
Residential wood burning is not healthy either:
research done across Europe, where residential burning is very common, has
shown extremely negative impacts for air quality and human health, and benefits when a wood stove was replaced with electric heating. I lived and
done air quality research in areas in Northern Italy where wintertime burning
is widespread, and the impacts on air quality, visibility and human health are
terrible. This is a problem that plagues many parts of Europe and we should not
repeat a failed experiment in Massachusetts, at the expenses of public
health.
Moreover, biomass burning (or any burning at all)
releases carbon dioxide emissions. With climate change looming on us, we should
use any opportunity to decrease, not to increase, carbon dioxide in the
atmosphere.
Allowing to burn
more biomass and possibly waste would represent an enormous set back from all
the progress that have been made to clean our grid, and, frankly, would set
dangerous precedent.
I sincerely hope that the Baker administration
will abandon this proposal for the well being of all residents in
Massachusetts
Respectfully,
Paola Massoli