Date: 3/10/2021
Why is Gov. Baker giving our tax dollars to Palmer Renewable to pollute Springfield, acknowledged as the “asthma capital of the U.S.” by The National Asthma and Allergy Association and where one in five children has asthma, by building a Biomass incinerator?
Proposed regulations changes would allow Palmer to collect $13-$15 million in renewable energy credits each year – funds which would be the lynchpin making Palmer’s Biomass plant economically viable.
The regulations at issue are the state’s Renewable Portfolio Standard (RPS) that would allow polluting wood-burning biomass power plants, like Palmer Renewable’s proposed Springfield plant, to qualify for the same state renewable energy subsidies as wind and solar.
But biomass is not clean energy. While it is often promoted as a form of renewable energy, burning biomass actually generates more carbon dioxide than any fossil fuel, and 75 percent more than natural gas. The plant will produce a huge amount of ash, 2,490 pounds per hour, and will emit fine particulates that lodge deep in the lungs when inhaled; nitrogen oxides, sulfur dioxide, and volatile organic chemicals, which are smog precursors; and hazardous air pollutants, including mercury, lead, other heavy metals, and hydrochloric acid. These chemicals are linked to asthma, diabetes, heart disease and cancer.
A group of local residents gathered in front of Gov. Baker’s Springfield office [recently] to ask Gov. Baker to come to Western Massachusetts to hear their concerns. Considering the ramifications this biomass plant will have across the commonwealth – the plume of pollution emitted is expected to travel at least the 90 miles to Boston – Gov. Baker should find his way west now to see how he is spending our tax dollars and understand what is at risk by his proposed regulations.
Susan Grossman
Agawam
