Dear Governor Baker:
I am alarmed by the proposed changes to RPS Class.
Especially the changes that reduce or eliminate the core
requirements of the 2012 RPS bio-energy rules.
In particular, the DOER plans reductions in facility
efficiency criteria, increases in the allowed variety of wood, including whole
trees.
Increasing from 20 years to 30 years the time frame for
plants to show a net reduction in GHG emissions relative to fossil fuels,
calculation of lifecycle CO2 emissions that ignore fossil fuels used in
harvesting, processing and transport.
Elimination of requirements for liquid fuels to show a
real reduction in GHG’s and the removal of Massachusetts-specific forest harvesting
criteria.
Your administration is aware that the climate crisis is
real, is urgent and that the time window for dramatic action is just a few
years.
These proposals are entirely contrary to the public good,
contrary to my health and especially contrary to the health of children and
older adults.
Clean energy does not come out of a smokestack. Burning
wood is a highly emitting source of energy and there is no longer time to grow
new forests to recapture the emissions.
Living forests sequester CO2. Health impacts are an
immediate consequence of wood burning.
The Commonwealth and its citizens cannot afford increased
health care costs and reductions in quality of life due to illness caused by
particulate matter pollution.
I urge you to withdraw the proposed eligibility changes
to RPS Class I and Class II.
Thank you.
Sincerely,