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Wind Siting on Public Lands

Wednesday, June 24, 2009 at  6:00 p.m. at Berkshire Community College.
The first of two “public listening sessions” was held at the Massachusetts Maritime Academy in Bourne on the possibility of siting wind power projects on state lands.  Over 100 people attended the hearing.  Presentations were made by the Executive Office of Energy and Environmental Affairs on recent energy legislation and an analysis of renewable power potential on state lands, and there were opportunities for members of the public to speak.  The analysis identifies sites on state conservation lands that could potentially host up to 947 megawatts of wind turbines.  The majority of these sites are mountain ridgetops owned by the Department of Conservation and Recreation as well as some coastal sites.  Only 12 people spoke at the meeting.  The majority of the comments centered on making it easier for cities and towns to site their own turbines, with calls to open municipal conservation land.

BEAT is very concerned that Massachusetts does not have an Executive Office of Environmental Affairs. Instead, our environmental office is combined with energy, and in our opinion this has led to energy projects not receiving proper environmental review.
BEAT supports the development of clean energy that must go through the same sort of environmental review as any other energy project. The biggest threat to biodiversity is habitat loss and fragmentation. BEAT supports, in principle, the proposed wind project at the rest area on the Mass Pike (although we have not seen the details yet). We do not support any energy project that carves up large, unfragmented ecosystems.

There are many other options to produce energy. The Nature Conservancy (TNC) mentioned a great one in their recent “Conservation Across the Commonwealth” – Clean Energy from Clean Water – use the water from the wastewater treatment plant to generate electricity. TNC found the proposal by the Massachusetts Water Resources Authority to generate 1,200 megawatt hours per year of electricity (comparable to most dams in the state) had no negative environmental impact.

Back to wind siting – Some sites may be appropriate for wind energy projects, but the majority of state owned Article 97 lands were acquired for a specific public purpose and have important wildlife and ecological values that would be compromised by the siting of power generation.  Other state lands, such as highway properties and former state hospitals, were not included in the report.  All state lands should be included in analysis of wind potential on public lands. Currently only Article 97 lands are well mapped, leading analysis to these sites, but the state could develop an equivalent mapping analysis for other state lands.

The state has updated their website for wind energy potential on state lands, including a map and index of sites.  For a more detailed view, take a look at the maps in the analysis of renewable power.

Also visit the Mass Audubon newly updated website for more information, including a number of recent administration reports including the Barriers to Siting Wind in Massachusetts.  Of note, the Barriers to Siting report identifies a lack of large, single-owner parcels as an impediment.

NOTE:  The state has also released a very useful wind analysis tool.  Zoom in and you can see wind maps, rare species habitat, important bird areas, and other data layers.

Wind on State Lands Public Meeting
Wednesday, June 24, 2009
6:00 p.m.
Berkshire Community College
Main Campus, K111 Theater
1350 West Street
Pittsfield, MA

If you can’t make the meeting, written comments are being accepted.
Comments should be directed to:
Commissioner Philip Giudice
Massachusetts Department of Energy Resources
100 Cambridge St., Suite 1020
Boston, MA 02114
Commissioner Rick Sullivan
Massachusetts Department of Conservation and Recreation
251 Causeway Street, Suite 600
Boston, MA 02114-2104

Thank you for taking the time to let the state know how you feel about this issue.
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Due to a conflict with another local event, the start time for the
public information meeting on the Draft Modification of the NPDES Permit
scheduled for Wednesday, June 24 has been moved up to  4:30 p.m. at
EPA/Weston Solutions, Inc., 10 Lyman Street Suite 2, Pittsfield, MA
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UPCOMING GRANT OPPORTUNITY: 2010 Water Conservation Grant Program
Request for Responses to be issued on or about July 8, 2009

Four Pre-RFR meetings will be Held

TO ALL INTERESTED PARTIES:
The MassDEP’s Water Conservation Grant Program awards funds to municipalities and public water systems to encourage and enhance
local drinking water conservation efforts.  Up to $60,000 per proposal or a total of up to $400,000 is expected to be awarded to eligible
municipalities and public water systems during this funding round.  This year’s RFR will be issued on or about July 8, 2009.  Proposals
will be due on August 19, 2009.  The RFR and all related materials will be posted at the Commonwealth’s procurement site,
http://www.comm-pass.com under Open Solicitations, Department of Environmental Protection, Professional Services.

A pre-RFR meeting will be held at MassDEP’s Northeast Regional Office, 205B Lowell Street, Wilmington on June 23, 2009 at 10:00 AM
(directions to NERO: http://www.mass.gov/dep/about/region/northeas.htm).

A second will be held at MassDEP’s Southeast Regional Office, 20 Riverside Drive, Lakeville on June 24, 2009 at 10:00 a.m. (directions
to SERO: http://mass.gov/dep/about/region/southeas.htm#directions).

A third will be held at MassDEP’s Central Regional Office, 627 Main Street, Worcester on June 26, 2009 at 10:00 a.m. in the Chicopee
Room (directions to CERO: http://mass.gov/dep/about/region/centralr.htm).

The final pre-RFR meeting will be held at the Massachusetts Department of Public Health’s Office, 23 Service Center Road, Northampton
on June 30, 2009 at 3:00 p.m.  (directions to DPH Office:
http://www.mass.gov/?pageID=eohhs2terminal&L=6&L0=Home&L1=Government&L2=Departments+and+Divisions&L3=Department+of
+Public+Health&L4=Directions&L5=Regional+Health+Offices&sid=Eeohhs2&b=terminalcontent&f=dph_regionaloffices_g_rho_western&
csid=Eeohhs2).

The purpose of each meeting is to discuss proposal ideas, and review project requirements and the application process.  Under state procurement regulations, MassDEP and other EOEEA staff will not be able to discuss projects with proponents after the RFR is issued.  Therefore, potential applicants are urged to take advantage of the Pre-RFR meetings and all other opportunities to engage program staff in discussion about how to develop eligible competitive projects prior to the July RFR issuance.

PROJECT ELIGIBILITY CRITERIA
Responses to the RFR may be submitted by any interested Massachusetts municipality or public water system.  In order to be considered eligible for funding, projects must:

  • Proposals must provide a 25% match of the requested grant amount.  In-kind services are eligible as a match.
  • The direct recipient of the grant must be a public water system or municipality.  Projects may be developed, carried out, and completed by non-governmental organizations, regional planning agencies, consultants, etc. on behalf of the public water system.
  • Leak detection survey projects must commit to follow-up repairs for detected leaks.
  • Projects must provide an appropriate method for determining environmental results such as quantifying the water savings from leaks repaired, retrofits, etc.

Eligible Projects
Project tasks/costs eligible for funding are listed below; however, all proposed projects that focus on drinking water conservation, loss identification, resolution, and prevention will be considered.

  • Water Audits for the distribution and metering systems to balance the volume of drinking water produced with the volume billed and account for the remaining water (loss).  Audits should use the guidance available on MassDEP’s website http://www.mass.gov/dep/water/approvals/guidance.pdf.
  • Leak Detection Surveys that include thorough documentation and a commitment to undertake leak repair work.
  • Water Rate Surveys for the purposes of establishing conservation-based rates that also assure appropriate revenues to support maintenance needs and capital projects for improvements to the water works system.  Proposed rate studies may also include a small-scale evaluation of capital needs to assure a higher degree of accuracy in setting conservation-based rates.
  • Water Conservation Outreach and Education Programs promoting awareness of the long-term economic and environmental benefits of water conservation, to include but not limited to; working with schools, producing local cable or newspaper announcements, distributing water conservation education information and low water use concepts to agricultural, commercial, industrial, and residential consumers.
  • Rebates for water efficient WaterSense labeled plumbing fixtures, and water efficient CEE qualified appliances (especially clothes washers).

APPLICATION PROCESS
Applications must meet the eligibility requirements and follow the specific format outlined in the RFR.  Applications are reviewed and recommended by an internal screening committee comprised of MassDEP and EOEEA staff.  Once grant awards are announced, the MassDEP begins contract negotiations with the proponents of the funded projects.  As a general rule of thumb, grantees can expect funds will become available three months after submitting the initial grant application.  Funds are paid on a reimbursement basis, and the Department retains 10% of the award amount until the project is finalized.

APPLICATION EVALUATION CRITERIA
The Department encourages all types of eligible, competitive proposals.  Competitive applications must respond to the RFR’s project goals, eligibility requirements, and evaluation criteria.

Tentative Grant Timelines for the 2009 Solicitation:
Informational Meeting in NERO                                               June 23, 2009
Informational Meeting in SERO                                                June 24, 2009
Informational Meeting in CERO                                                June 26, 2009
Informational Meeting in Northampton-DPH                            June 30, 2009
RFR Released on Comm-PASS                                                 July 8, 2009
Deadline for Submitting Written Questions                               July 22, 2009
Response to Questions posted on Comm-PASS                         July 31, 2009
Responses Due to the MassDEP                                                 August 19, 2009 (5:00 pm)
Evaluation and Selection by Review Committee                        Mid-September 2009

A Water Conservation Grant Program ‘Fact Sheet’ is posted on http://www.mass.gov/dep/water/wlpgprog.htm.

To obtain additional program information, indicative summaries of past Water Conservation Grant projects, or a copy of the new RFR once released, please call or email Malcolm Harper, Water Conservation Grant Program Coordinator at 508-767-2795, Malcolm.Harper@state.ma.us, or write care of The Department of Environmental Protection, Division of Municipal Services, 627 Main Street-2nd Floor, Worcester, MA 01608.  Hard copies of the RFR will only be mailed if requested. 
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Interested companies, municipalities, non-profit organizations and public agencies must notify Department of Energy Resources by June 30

As part of Governor Patrick’s Massachusetts Recovery Plan to secure the state’s economic future, the Department of Energy Resources (DOER) is soliciting proposals from the public and private sectors for an array of innovative clean power and energy efficient projects that could be eligible for federal stimulus funding under the American Recovery and Reinvestment Act (ARRA).

The US Department of Energy (US DOE) recently requested applications for a share of approximately $156 million that is expected to fund up to 72 projects to deploy energy efficient technologies nationwide. DOER is preparing a comprehensive application on behalf of all interested Massachusetts entities and will submit it to the US DOE by July 14. Cities and towns, private firms, state agencies, institutions of healthcare and higher education, and non-profit organizations have until June 30 to respond to a recently-posted DOER Program Opportunity Notice.

Projects eligible for The Clean Energy & Industrial Efficiency Program – which must be “shovel ready” within 120 days of receiving federal funding – advance the Patrick Administration’s clean energy goals through energy efficiency and reduced fossil fuel-based energy generation, while meeting strict environmental standards.  Eligible projects include:

  • Combined heat and power, a technology that simultaneously generates electricity and useful thermal energy – significantly improving the efficiency of fuel use for both heat and power;
  • District energy systems, which produce steam, hot water or chilled water at a central plant and then pipe that energy out to multiple buildings in a “district” for space heating, domestic hot water heating and/or air conditioning – eliminating the need for boilers, furnaces, chillers, or air conditioners in individual buildings;
  • Waste energy recovery, which collects and reuses energy from sources such as exhaust heat or flared gas from industrial processes, or waste gas that would otherwise be flared, incinerated or vented;
  • Efficient industrial equipment – defined as any proven, commercially available technology that improves industrial efficiency by at least 25 percent.

“I encourage businesses, municipalities and others to come forward with proposals for putting this federal funding to work here in Massachusetts,” DOER Commissioner Philip Giudice said. “Increasing investment in these innovative energy technologies will move us further along the path to a clean energy future that Governor Patrick is blazing for Massachusetts.”

Commissioner Giudice noted that combined heat and power (CHP) is among the technologies supported by a new Alternative Energy Portfolio Standard (APS) established by the Green Communities Act of 2008. Augmenting the Commonwealth’s Renewable Portfolio Standard, APS regulations that took effect in January require utilities and other electricity suppliers to purchase power from APS-eligible sources at a rate of 0.75 percent of sales this year, and increasing to 5 percent by 2020.
Under terms of the DOE’s program, ARRA funding will pay up to 50 percent of projects selected for funding.

“Putting this federal money to work encouraging combined heat and power and other energy efficiency projects will allow companies to save significant money on energy costs, making them more competitive at a time when every penny counts,” said Robert A. Rio, Senior Vice President and Counsel at Associated Industries of Massachusetts, Inc.

“The Commonwealth is poised to be a national leader in deploying technologies that use energy more efficiently. This will help us fight global warming, help consumers reduce their energy bills, and position the state for job growth in the clean energy sector,” said Sam Krasnow, Attorney with Environment Northeast.

Investments in clean power and industrial energy efficiency are critical components of Governor Patrick’s Massachusetts Recovery Plan, which combines state, federal and, where possible, private efforts to provide immediate and long-term relief and position the Commonwealth for recovery in the following ways:

  • Deliver immediate relief by investing in the road, bridge and rail projects that put people to work today and providing safety net services that sustain people who are especially vulnerable during an economic crisis;
  • Build a better tomorrow through education and infrastructure investments that strengthen our economic competitiveness, prepare workers for the jobs of the future, and support clean energy, broadband, and technology projects that cut costs while growing the economy; and
  • Reform state government by eliminating the pension and ethics loopholes that discredit the work of government and revitalize the transportation networks that have suffered from decades of neglect and inaction.

For more information, please visit www.mass.gov/recovery. For details on DOER’s Program of Opportunity Notice.
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Climate Change Adaptation Advisory Committee Listening Session – 7/1/09

The Executive Office of Energy and Environmental Affairs (EEA) will hold public information and input sessions this summer on the subject of climate change adaptation – meaning ways that we can adapt to the effects of our changing climate. These effects include increased sea levels, warming temperatures, and increased incidences of floods and droughts.

BEAT has several suggestions on how to help wildlife (and people) cope with climate change. We believe it is critically important to maintain and enhance linkages among our already protected landscapes. This way wildlife will be able to move to adapt as their habitats change. Also, BEAT is asking that highway planners design culverts and bridges to allow for fish and wildlife passage, as well as for the large stormwater surges we are having due to more intense storms. By following the Massachusetts River and Stream Crossing Standards for new roads, when repairing existing roads, we can decrease the impact of our transportation network, and help wildlife cope with climate change.

The state’s new Climate Change Adaptation Advisory Committee will use information received in the sessions as they work to draft a recommendation for the legislature over the coming months.  The Advisory Committee is made up of experts from business, academia, and not-for-profit organizations who will prepare a report for the state legislature with its findings by December 31, 2009.  As mandated by the Act, the Climate Change Adaptation Advisory Committee includes members representing the following sectors: transportation and built infrastructure; commercial, industrial and manufacturing activities; low income consumers; energy generation and distribution; land conservation; water supply and quality; recreation; ecosystems dynamics; coastal zone and oceans; rivers and wetlands; and local government.  Experts in public health, insurance, forestry, agriculture, and public safety have also been included.

A public information session is scheduled for:
Wednesday, July 1, 2009
4:00 pm 6:00 pm
Springfield City Library
220 State Street
Springfield MA 01103
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DCR Forest Futures Public Forum and Tour in Leominster Tuesday

DCR’s Forest Futures Visioning Process will hold a forest tour and public forum in Leominster on Tuesday June 23rd from 4 to 8 p.m. A second similar forum is tentatively scheduled for July 14 at a location to be determined in the Berkshires.

The program will begin with a Walk-in-the-Woods at Leominster State Forest from 4 – 5:30 p.m. DCR Forester Chuck Pernaa will lead the group to several locations to discuss and view examples of the forest conditions, management practices, and recreational uses of some of our state lands.  Participants should meet at the Leominster State Forest day use area parking lot located, coming off of Route 2, on Rt. 31 southbound, 9/10 of a mile past the park headquarters on the left-hand side. Antendees should dress for the weather conditions and wear sturdy shoes.

The second part of the program will be a Public Forum at the Doyle Conservation Center in Leominster from 6 – 8 p.m.

This first public forum is to elicit feedback about public values, goals, and concerns about the management of DCR forest lands going forward.   The program will begin with approximately a half-hour of presentations that will provide an overview of the Forest Futures

Visioning Process, basic facts about forests, and key issues.  We will collect questions for the subject experts and presenters and answer as many as time allows.  Then, working in small groups, we’ll have an hour of organized discussion.  The groups will report back to the group at large about what is important about Massachusetts forestlands, from their perspective.

There will be light food and refreshments available.

A second similar forum is tentatively scheduled for July 14 at a location to be determined in the Berkshires.

If you would like to join us for the Public Forum on June 23, please RSVP to MODR@umb.edu

For directions, see http://www.thetrustees.org/pages/3946_directions.cfm.
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Volunteers Needed

Hello,
My name is Christine Neumann. I am a transportation planner at Berkshire Regional Planning Commission.  Last year, we started a program to count users on the Ashuwillticook Rail Trail in May, July and September.  Our May 2009 trail count was a big success!  On Saturday, May 2nd there were 1,966 one way trips documented between 7AM and 7PM.  On Wednesday, May 6th there were 523 one way trips documented between 7:30-9:30 and 4:30-6:30PM.   Please visit the BRPC website to see the results from the May 2009 trail count: http://berkshireplanning.org/3/bike/

We will be continuing the program in 2009 with counts on Saturday, July 11 from 7AM to 7PM and Tuesday, July 14 from 7:30-9:30AM and 4:30-6:30PM.

These counts are useful for several reasons.  The counts help us to gain a better understanding of what types of activities people most enjoy while using the trail, and by performing counts regularly throughout the year, we will be able to build a foundation for predicting future use.  The trail counts also collect information on helmet use, which can be used to promote greater education and enforcement.   Most importantly, the data collected will be used to advocate for greater trail development throughout Berkshire County.

I am looking for volunteers to help count trail users in July and would like to ask if you could please post the attached flier in your facility or forward it to members of your organization and see if anyone would be interesting in volunteering.   School representatives might consider forwarding the information to Guidance Offices, Community and/or Leadership Clubs, or post it on morning announcements and school websites.

Volunteers are asked to commit to a two hour shift on Saturday anytime between 7AM and 7PM (Saturday’s shifts are: 7-9AM, 9-11AM, 11-1PM, 1-3PM, 3-5PM, 5-7PM) or a two hour shift on Tuesday between 7:30-9:30 and 4:30-6:30.    This is a passive tally of the number of one way trips.  Volunteers are not required to interview or speak with trail users in any way. This is an easy opportunity for students and staff to get outside and enjoy the weather while helping the community. I have also copied the text of the flier below.

My summer intern Matthew Martin will be coordinating the July counts.  Interested people should give Matthew a call at 442-1521, ext. 32 with thier preferred location, date and shift and he will try to accommodate their preferences.

Thank you for your continued support!

Please contact me if you have any questions or would like to sign up for a shift.  I appreciate your support.

Thank you,

Christine Neumann
Transportation Planner
Berkshire Regional Planning Commission
1 Fenn Street, Suite 201
Pittsfield, MA 01201
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From the Rushing Rivers Institute,

MesoHABSIM Courses

A number of MesoHABSIM trainings are offered this summer and fall again.

MesoHABSIM Intro Webinar: June 30th , 10am-12pm EST.
This two hours on-line course will provide you with a brief introduction to physical habitat modeling and describe key features of MesoHABSIM. It will include 30 min Q&A session.

Introduction to Instream  Habitat Modeling using MesoHABSIM, Annual meeting of American Fisheries Society, Nashville, TN: August 29 August 30
This continuing education course is intended for decision makers and conservationists who want to have a good understanding of the MesoHABSIM method. We will teach the theory of data collection techniques within the MesoHABSIM framework along with analysis and interpretation of project based data.

Madrid October 19-22, 2009
Again two back-to-back  MesoHABSIM courses are offered on October 19-22, 2009 at the Technical University of Madrid.
1) Two-day short-course for those who want to learn the theoretical basics of the approach.
2) Those who want to apply the technique and learn the software are invited to take four days of training.
Please visit www.mesohabsim.org to check out the course syllabus, pricing and registration.

Dr. Piotr  Parasiewicz
Rushing Rivers Institute
264 N. Pleasant Street
Amherst, MA 01002
tel: 413 461 3042
cell: 413 687 4740
fax: 440 425 2028
url: www.RushingRivers.org
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A cool green option: $30 for extra refrigerators .
By Beth Daley, Globe Staff      June 4, 2009

That extra freezer or refrigerator humming in your garage or basement is probably an energy hog.

Older refrigerators – and most extra units in homes are older – can use more than three times the energy of newer models sold after 2001. And if my family is any indication, there might only be a few frozen pizzas and last year’s left over birthday cake in them. The U.S. Environmental Protection Agency estimates there are about 23 million secondary freezers or refrigerators operating in the country.

Now, as part of an energy efficiency effort by National Grid, someone will come to Massachusetts and Rhode Island customers’ homes and take extra refrigerators and freezers away – and hand you $30 for the privilege.

A new JACO Environmental recycling facility in Franklin, MA will recycle about 95 percent of the material in the units and safely dispose of any chemicals and ozone-depleting substances them.

It seems to be a win-win situation on many levels.

The U.S. Environmental Protection Agency estimates removing a secondary refrigerator can save a household over $100 a year. Add to that of course, the reduction in greenhouse gases and the permanent removal of toxins in the appliances.

“It works for the planet, it works for your wallet and it works for conserving our precious resources,” said Michael Dunham, director of energy and environmental programs for JACO. His company says most consumers don’t realize that the money that they spend by buying refrigerated or frozen goods in volume is wasted on the cost of storage.

Here’s how it works: Figure out if you can live without your extra freezer or refrigerator. Make sure it is working. Up to two freezers or refrigerators in a household in Massachusetts or Rhode Island are eligible.

Then National Grid customers should call 1-877-545-4113 or go to www.coolturnin.com.
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Law suit warned on biomass energy plant

A citizens’ group has served the secretary of Energy and Environmental Affairs with an intent to sue notice because officials did not order an environmental impact report on the effects of a proposed biomass incinerator.

A letter was sent to Secretary Ian Bowles and served as a notice of intent for the suit, according to Margaret E. Sheehan, the lawyer for Concerned Citizens of Franklin County. The group maintains that Bowles is violating state law by refusing to require an assessment to determine the environmental impact of the plant.

Lisa Capone, the press secretary for Bowles, said he stands by his decision not to require the report. Capone said her office has received the notice of intent and will forward it to the Attorney General’s office.

The facility, which would be built by Pioneer Renewable Energy at an estimated cost of $250 million, is one of five proposed biomass incinerators in central and Western Massachusetts. New legislation encourages the creation of the incinerators as an alternative to coal- and oil-burning plants. The biomass incinerators would burn woods chips to produce electricity. The other proposed biomass burning plants are located in Pittsfield, Russell, Springfield and Fitchburg.

Residents showed up in force for a Zoning Board of Appeals hearing in Greenfield Tuesday on requests for special permits for the plant, which would be located near the Industrial Park off Route 2. Although the meeting was canceled when a board member fell ill, people spoke out against the incinerator for almost three hours.

The biomass incinerator in Russell has also drawn criticism from residents and environmentalist. In Springfield, Palmer Renewable Energy has received a special permit to exceed the height limit for a chimney at its $150 million facility on Cadwell Drive. That plant, which will burn wood to make electricity, has won the approval of the East Springfield Neighborhood Council. Bowles waived the environmental impact report for that project as well.

Sheehan said the plaintiffs must wait for the state to issue an air pollution permit before filing suit but will follow through on the threat of legal action.
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