State revokes permit for proposed Springfield biomass plant
Published: 4/4/2021 8:40:31 PM
SPRINGFIELD A proposed biomass power plant, long the subject of controversy and opposition, had its air quality permit revoked by the state Department of Environmental Protection on Friday.
The proposed wood-burning plant is being developed by Palmer Renewable Energy. However, in a letter to the company, MassDEP western regional office director Michael Gorski said the DEP was revoking the proposed East Springfield plant’s permit because construction had not commenced within a two-year time frame. Environmental concerns were also cited.
“MassDEP has determined to exercise this authority due to the amount of time that has elapsed since issuance of the PRE (Palmer Renewable Energy) Final Plan Approval, more recent health-related information, and the heightened focus on environmental and health impacts on environmental justice populations from sources of pollution during the intervening y
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State has hopefully struck a fatal blow to Springfield power plant
By Yvonne Abraham Globe Columnist,Updated April 3, 2021, 4:50 p.m.
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Zulmalee Rivera-Delgado, 42, (right), her mother Grisel Delgado, 64, who has chronic obstructive pulmonary disease, and her 9-year-old daughter Zeva Rae Joyner, who has asthma, oppose the wood-energy plant proposed for Springfield. They say it will add to the already heavy pollution in the city.Jessica Rinaldi/Globe Staff
Here is a good-news story I hadnât expected to write.
For years, residents and activists have been fighting to stop a wood-burning power plant from being built in East Springfield. The company hoping to build the facility argued that, because it would be burning waste wood as fuel, the plant would be a cleaner way to generate power, using a renewable energy source: 1,200 tons of sawdust, tree-trimming offcuts, and other wood waste per day.
After years of protests, state officials revoke permit for controversial biomass plant in Springfield
By David Abel Globe Staff,Updated April 2, 2021, 6:09 p.m.
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Zulmalee Rivera-Delgado, 42, (right), her mother Grisel Delgado, 64, who has chronic obstructive pulmonary disease, and her 9-year-old daughter Zeva Rae Joyner, who has asthma, oppose the wood-energy plant proposed for Springfield. They say it will add to the already heavy pollution in the city.Jessica Rinaldi/Globe Staff
After years of protests, the state Department of Environmental Protection on Friday revoked a critical air permit for a massive wood-burning power plant proposed to be built in Springfield, which opponents said would pollute the city and contribute to climate change.
Miriam Kurland: Biomass plant bad for state
Published: 4/1/2021 11:57:17 AM
Springfield is already impacted by countless environmental and public health problems, including COVID-19. The last thing that is needed is a biomass plant spewing pollution into the air, worsening existing respiratory issues and darkening the future on this planet.
One in five children in Springfield has asthma, and the city received the title of “asthma capital of the U.S.” from the national Asthma and Allergy Association. Massachusetts Department of Energy Resources (DOER) issued a terrible proposed amendments to the state’s Renewable Portfolio Standard (RPS) that would allow polluting wood-burning biomass power plants, like Palmer Renewable Energy’s proposed Springfield plant, to qualify for the same state renewable energy subsidies as wind and solar power.