Lee Ann,
While this group is Pro trees and I'm not educated about
the Greenfield project, in my humble opinion there are worse ways to create
energy. There is currently a project working on permitting in my town
(Russell Biomass) of which I am educated about. I Chaired a grassroots
citizens group tasked with educating the public with regards to both sides
of the coin, and was a member of the Planning Board. However, the
opposition here grossly misrepresented the facts and data and the media
wasn't interested in hearing otherwise-as confrontation sells.
Russell Biomass has undergone a MEPA review, and extensive
investigation by numerous Federal and State agencies. Along with the
Federal and State inquiries, the town of Russell hired an independent
company to investigate-and the committee responsible for choosing the
company and areas to research were represented by all interested parties,
including the opposition. The report came back with a few things to look at
but pretty much backing what the experts had been telling us. While burning
biomass will create air particulates-and of the small size that is harmful
to the respiratory tract-burning coal isn't any better for the air or
environment. It really gets me that sections of the public become up in
arms about burning biomass for the impacts to the environment, but nobody
mentions the coal plants. During research for a paper I was working on for
my degree in Environmental Science I discovered that Holyoke, MA possesses
the third dirtiest power plant in the state-burning coal-and yet there is
nothing mentioned in the media at all.
It's true that the biomass projects would create less energy
than currently being produced by other means (the Holyoke coal plant is
350kw and the biomass project in Russell is 50kw), but we need to start
somewhere. Nuclear plants run the risk of fall out and also create
hazardous materials at the same time. Coal is increasing the amounts of
mercury in our waterways. Burning any fossil fuels is detriment to the
environment. There is currently opposition to both wind and biomass energy
being produced, but in my view they are the lesser of the two evils-so to
speak.
I've conducted much research on the topic of biomass plants,
have spoken with Federal and State agencies, interviewed plant managers, and
toured a plant in New Hampshire. I know the opposition here was the cause
of a lot of the public confusion. I'm not saying I didn't catch the company
proposing the plant misrepresenting the facts, but they did to a much lesser
degree. I would be more than game to discuss this with you further, if you
desire.
Phil LaBranche
From: [email protected] [mailto:[email protected]] On
Behalf Of Lee Ann Warner
Sent: Monday, June 01, 2009 4:18 PM
To: [email protected]
Subject: [ENTS] help defeat biomass plants
Hello All, Sorry if you've seen this already. I tried sending last night
but potentially lost the message. Bob Leverett told me that there might be
some interest here at ENTS to learn more about the five biomass plants
proposed for western Massachusetts and to help defeat one currently before
the Greenfield Zoning Board of Appeals. These five plants will impact our
already dismally rated air quality and they could decimate our forests.
There simply is not enough "sustainably cut wood." Three of these plants
would provide less than 1% of MA energy needs and pour hundreds of thousands
of tons per year of carbon dioxide and other pollutants into our already
saturated atmosphere. Yet, these plants are going through without MEPA
review with the help of our tax dollars because this is considered a
renewable energy and carbon neutral. Please take a look at the info at
http://www.massenvironmentalenergy.org for more info on this issue. If you
would like to help defeat the Greenfield plant, I invite you to take a look
at http://www.greenfieldbiomass.info for more information on how you can
help locally. Letters to the editor of the Greenfield Recorder before the
June 15 ZBA meeting would also be most helpful in educating a confused
Greenfield citizens about the downsides of biomass because It seems that
most elected officials and the editor of the Greenfield Recorder are for
this plant. Letters to state and federal representatives would be helpful
too. If you have any questions, please feel free to get back to me. Thanks
for your review, Lee Ann Warner
--~--~---------~--~----~------------~-------~--~----~
Eastern Native Tree Society http://www.nativetreesociety.org
Send email to [email protected]
Visit this group at http://groups.google.com/group/entstrees?hl=en
To unsubscribe send email to [email protected]
-~----------~----~----~----~------~----~------~--~---
