July 26, 2019
Massachusetts Department of Energy Resources (DOER)
Cambridge, MA
Subject: Comment on Proposed Changes to the Biomass Regulations in the Renewable Energy Portfolio Standard (225 C.M.R. 14.00 and 225 C.M.R. 15.00)
Allowing the proposed changes to the RPS regulations for biomass would be a move in the opposite direction of the urgency for reduction of greenhouse gasses that the State legislature and other State agencies are now recognizing. Acknowledgement this need is growing in other states and nations.
Your department has likely been supplied with sufficient data to indicate the danger of allowing the proposed change. Please step beyond these data points and just picture the comparison on carbon output offered by some proponents of the proposed change:
Naturally decomposing wood <=?=> Smokestack output of a fully operational biomass plant
Opening the door to full-blast operation of such highly polluting power plants, let providing RPS subsidies to power plant owners is beyond unconscionable. You must think beyond the near term and the narrow interests of business or industry groups.
The future of life-as-we-know-it is at stake. Reject the proposed changes to RPS.
Thank you for your consideration.
Harry Mishkin
5 Porter Rd. Unit 106
Andover, MA 01810