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