In the News
CALENDAR OF EVENTS Advocacy News (Includes how to reach your legislators) DEP Enforcement Actions In The Berkshire return to top |
Wind Siting on Public Lands 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. 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 If you can’t make the meeting, written comments are being accepted. |
| 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 return to top |
UPCOMING GRANT OPPORTUNITY: 2010 Water Conservation Grant Program Four Pre-RFR meetings will be Held TO ALL INTERESTED PARTIES: 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 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 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 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: 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
Eligible Projects
APPLICATION PROCESS APPLICATION EVALUATION CRITERIA Tentative Grant Timelines for the 2009 Solicitation: 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. |
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:
“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. “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. 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:
For more information, please visit www.mass.gov/recovery. For details on DOER’s Program of Opportunity Notice click here. |
Climate Change Adaptation Advisory Committee Listening Session - 7/1/09 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: |
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. |
|
Hello, 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. Please circulate the enclosed flier (pdf) in your community and encourage others to volunteer. 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 |
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. Introduction to Instream Habitat Modeling using MesoHABSIM, Annual meeting of American Fisheries Society, Nashville, TN: August 29 August 30 Madrid October 19-22, 2009 |
A cool green option: $30 for extra refrigerators . That extra freezer or refrigerator humming in your garage or basement is probably an energy hog. 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. |
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. |
 |
      |
 |
 |
- Home
- Agencies & Regulations
- News
- Issues
- Volunteers in Action
- Donate or Volunteer