Nicole Loeffler-GladstoneLena AmickSid Salvi

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Springfield

Jun 08 Jul 08 Aug 08 Sept 08 Oct Nov Dec Jan 09 Feb March April May June July Aug Sept Oct Nov Dec Jan 2010

Springfield City Council approves biomass plant 7-2 vote.

Opposition by environmental-ists in Russell

PRE plant receives MEPA certificate

Over 100 community members speak out against biomass at the Pine Point Community Center

State temporarily suspends permit

Public hearing in Holyoke: community opposition

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East Springfield Neighborhood Council approves biomass plant

Burning organic material (wood) for fuel

Burning wood heats water Steam powers turbine

PRE plant would burn: 700 tons/day of construction and demolition debris (CDD) wood

200 tons/day green wood chips

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Why?a.Helps policymakers do the most good given the choices available

b.Compare benefits and costs in standard units

Componentsa.Economic Benefits and Costs

b.Environmental Costs

c.Health Care Costs

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470,000 tons of CO2 per year1

134 tons of NOx per year2

46 tons of particulates per year 156 tons of CO per year3

Volatile Organic Compounds, arsenic, copper, chromium (from pressure-treated wood), lead (from paint), and chlorine (from glues and plastics).

1. Data for proposed biomass plants. Massachusetts Environmental Energy Alliance. http://www.massenvironmentalenergy.org/plantdata.html

2. Mary Booth’s presentation, Springfield Public Health Council Meeting, 11/18/093. Palmer Renewable Energy, LLC, Major Comprehensive Plan Application. Nov 21, 2008

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1. Lower air quality (e.g. increased CO2, VOCs, particulate matter, ground level ozone)1

2. Greater deforestation3. Destruction of wildlife habitats4. Deterioration of water resources

1 Mary Booth, Springfield Public Health Council Meeting, 11/18/09

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NOx: precursor of ground-level ozone, linked to asthma

Particulate Matter (also DPM): linked to asthma, heart disease, cancer; Diesel PM from trucking, logging.

Hazardous Air Pollutants: asbestos, chloroform - persistent, bio-accumulative, and toxic

Metals: non-degradable, accumulative (lead, mercury)

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High incidence of respiratory diseases in Springfield

Twice the state average hospitalization rate for asthma

Among the highest non-cancer respiratory risk and carcinogenic risk in the country.

Source: Massachusetts Department of Health and Human Services, 2006

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1. Deaths due to increased incidence of respiratory diseases

2. Increased hospital and medical expenditures

3. Increased school absences1

4. Lower productivity2

1 Rivkin et al. “Does Pollution Increase School Absences?” The Review of Economics and Statistics; November 2009, 682-694

2 Ho, Chau-Sa & Hite, Diane. “Toxic Chemical Releases, Health Effects and Productivity Losses in the United States.” Journal of Community Health; August, 2009, 539-546.

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Benefits◦ 50 full-time jobs◦ 200 temporary jobs◦ PRE has agreed to make $667,000 in infrastructure improvements

◦ PRE will give a $25,000 annual green education grant to the Springfield schools

◦ Generate electricity for 23,000 to 30,000 homes (approx. 1% of total power generated in Mass.)

Source: “Developers of proposed Springfield biomass plant tell Public Health Council: 'Nothing less than the best,” Masslive.com, 12/2/2009.

Costs◦ $170 million to build◦ $250,000 loan from Massachusetts Technology Collaborative

◦ Loss of value to property near power plant site

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• Complete a comprehensive benefit-cost analysis for all proposed biomass power plants.

• Develop alternative renewable energy options to compare with status quo and current Palmer Renewable Energy biomass proposal.

• Include all stakeholders in decision-making and research processes.

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“The first time I saw the pictures [of forest destruction] it was the visceral connection- we’re all connected with the trees.” - Beth Adams

“If you took a tree and if it’s worth $100 going to Canada, the owner gets absolutely nothing for biomass chips – it’s an economic disaster to buy into biomass harvesting.”

- Mary Wigmore, local independent

forester

“We don’t need it. Lots of seniors have asthma, lots of children have asthma. We don’t need that plant.”

-Emma Johnson

“We feel that [local residents with illnesses] will die if the plant comes here.”

- Betty Agincommunity activist, coordinator of the Springfield Health Disparities Projects and administrator of Universal Community Voices Eliminating Disparities

“My wife and I became interested in the biomass issue mainly for health reasons. We are an avid outdoors family, so the environmental issues of forest abuse due to increased demand for wood was a major second issue for us. My family focused on fighting the Springfield plant as the most dangerous for our health. Even though the approval process was in the final stages at the state level, we felt that judgment calls were made at the highest levels of our state agencies that were reversible if sufficient public outcry was made.”

- Stuart Warner local activist along with Lee Ann Warner

We can’t look to Washington to solve our problems – we have to work right here!

- Francis Crowe