Feb 16, 2021
MARION – Marion has been awarded a grant totaling $120,238 that will support energy efficient projects in town, according to a Feb. 17 press release.
The grant was awarded to Marion by the Green Communities Program through the Massachusetts Department of Energy Resources. The town must be a “Green Community” in order to be eligible for the grant and meet criteria that further energy savings goals.
Marion has already completed several projects in an effort to help the town achieve its goal of reducing energy use by 20% over 5 years, including an electric heat pump system at the Benjamin D. Cushing Community Center, attic and basement ceiling insulation at the Music Hall, new storm window inserts at the Elizabeth Taber Library, and two new gas furnaces at two pumping stations in town.
Ed Brennen Dealing with the emotional toll of climate change and reducing the environmental footprint of plastics are among the topics that will be covered in a new spring seminar series hosted by UMass Lowellâs Climate Change Initiative (CCI).Â
Assoc. Prof. of Plastics Engineering Meg Sobkowicz-Kline will kick off the virtual series on Monday, Feb. 1, with a talk on âLiving with Plastics: Problems and Solutions.â Sobkowicz-Kline, who serves as the Francis College of Engineeringâs liaison to the CCI, will discuss the basic issues in plastics sustainability, her research groupâs recent highlights, and steps being taken by her department to lower its environmental footprint.
Scrutiny persists over biomass plant in Springfield
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Modified: 12/31/2020 10:47:44 AM
SPRINGFIELD As the year comes to an end, environmental and racial justice advocates are sounding the alarm about legislation and regulations that are set to benefit a proposed wood-burning power plant in Springfield.
The energy plant, which developer Palmer Renewable Energy secured a permit for a decade ago, has long been the subject of controversy. Opponents have pointed to research that shows burning “biomass” wood chips or pellets made from trees and cleared brush results in significant greenhouse gas emissions and other pollutants harmful to human health. The project is located in Springfield, which the Asthma and Allergy Foundation of America has named the asthma capital of the country.
Massachusetts loses its claim to being the most energy-efficient state
By David Abel Globe Staff,Updated December 17, 2020, 6:15 p.m.
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This was the first year Massachusetts wasn t ranked the most energy-efficient state in the country in nine years.Eyematrix - stock.adobe.com
For nine years in a row, Massachusetts ranked as the most energy-efficient state in the country, according to a closely watched annual report.
But not this year.
The state dropped to No. 2, behind California, according to the American Council for an Energy-Efficient Economy, a nonprofit based in Washington D.C.
While the reasons for the lost bragging rights are somewhat technical â Massachusetts was still lauded in the groupâs annual report card â the slight demotion has sparked calls to reform its energy efficiency programs, which are considered vital to the stateâs plans to effectively eliminate carbon emissions by 2050.