Biomass facility to appeal state revocation of permit April 13, 2021 |
Reminder Publishing photo by G. Michael Dobbs
SPRINGFIELD – Sen. Edward Markey joined with local elected officials on March 7 to celebrate the decision by the Massachusetts Department of Environmental Protection (DEP) to revoke the permitting for Palmer Renewable Energy (PRE) and its planned biomass facility.
The issue is not yet settled. PRE had 10 days in which to file an appeal and Climate Action Now Massachusetts has reported that “PRE is appealing DEP’s decision to revoke the permit and has filed an emergency motion to stay the implementation.”
The Springfield Climate Justice Coalition released a statement anticipating the appeal. The group noted its new agenda:
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Battle continues: Palmer Renewable Energy files appeal after state revokes biomass project permit
Updated 2:53 PM;
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SPRINGFIELD Palmer Renewable Energy has filed an appeal asking the state to reverse its revocation of an air permit for a biomass energy plant in East Springfield.
The state Department of Environmental Protection revoked the air permit for the plant last Friday. The move was hailed by opponents and threatened to kill the project, which Palmer Renewable Energy has been fighting for more than a decade to build.
MassDEP cited prolonged delays in construction as well as “environmental justice concerns” in its decision to revoke the permit.
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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