Massachusetts is revisiting its regulations for wood-burning biomass power.
On Tuesday, the Department of Energy Resources of the state will hold a virtual hearing to solicit public feedback about a proposal to modify the eligibility criteria for renewable energy subsidies for biomass plants. The state will also change how it tracks and verifies which wood is being burned by these plants.
If you’re thinking, Wait, did the state update the rules regarding biomass last year? You aren’t crazy. The department was supposed finalize the regulatory changes last autumn, but it failed to do so for technical and administrative reasons. So now the department is redoing the process — public hearings and comment period, included.
Although feedback from last year will be rolled over, it is important to remember that the The proposal itselfIt has changed. The state is taking back environmental justice protections that were suggested by it last year.
It’s been quite some time since biomass has been in the news. To fully understand what the state is proposing, you need to understand how these rules came about. Our 2020 explainer will help you dive into biomass.
If you are just looking for theCliffsNotes then you need to be aware that biomass power can be controversial. While supporters claim it’s renewable and sustainable, the fact that biomass power produces large amounts of greenhouse gases and is inefficient makes it difficult to support. In fact, a megawatt produced from electricity from wood releases more carbon dioxide into our atmosphere than a megawatt made from coal.
The Department of Energy Resources, under Gov. Charlie Baker proposed “updating” Massachusetts’ strict biomass rules in order to make it easier to obtain clean energy subsidies for older, less efficient plants. The administration claimed that it would be beneficial for the state’s climate goals. However, environmental groups like Partnership for Policy Integrity and Conservation Law Foundation as well as Attorney General Maurahealey and prominent climate scientists voted against the changes.
Local activists in the state were also concerned that it would revive plans to build a biomass plant in Springfield. If the regulatory changes were implemented, the plant, which was already on pause, but was slated to be constructed in an environmental justice community, could qualify for renewable energy subsidies.
New safeguards for environmental justice
After months of intense debate, the department revised its proposals to ensure that no biomass plants located within a 5-mile radius or an environmental justice community would be eligible for clean energy subsidies. It was a major win for Springfield, as it dealt a serious blow to the proposed plant’s finances.
Now, however, the Department of Energy Resources has once again been established. Modifying the proposal. Only in the latest regulatory updateNewSubsidy is not available for biomass facilities located near communities of environmental justice. Any plant constructed before January 1, 2022 is exempt.
Laura Haight from the nonprofit Partnership for Policy Integrity, which closely tracks biomass regulations, says the change was probably intended to prevent two small biomass facilities in the state from losing their subsidies — the Cooley Dickinson facility in Northampton and the Seaman Paper facility in Gardner are the only biomass plants in Mass. They both qualify for renewable energy credit and are located within 5 miles or less of an environmental justice area.
Haight said that while it would be one thing for Massachusetts to grandfather these two small plants in, the current language makes it more difficult for out-of state biomass power plants that are currently operating to be eligible to sell Massachusetts renewable energy.
It is not clear how the environmental justice provision will affect the eligibility of facilities in Maine and New Hampshire for subsidies, since there is no national definitionof an environmental justice community. Its also not clear what it would mean for out-of-statefacilities that shut down around 2012 butcould be financially viable again if they receivedcredits.
A spokesperson stated only that biomass facilities must prove they comply with environmental justice provisions in all states.
What other changes are there in the update?
The update to the biomass regulation has seen many iterations in the past few years. It is confusing to say the least. There are four major changes that are currently being considered:
- Clean energy subsidies are prohibited for any plant constructed after January 1, 2022 if it is within 5 miles of an environment justice community.
- The requirement that the state establish an advisory committee to track and verify the origins of wood from plants receiving subsidies is removed. Any language referring to the committee would be considered guidance, rather than regulation.
- Reduces the plant’s ability to get half credit in order to reach 50% efficiency
- For plants built before 2022, which get at least 95% of their wood non-forest derived, there are no efficiency requirements
(Read our explanation to learn more about efficiency standards.
Why would you change regulations?
At a Last year’s hearingPatrick Woodcock, the Commissioner of Department of Energy Resources stated that the proposed changes were intended for two purposes: to simplify language between two clean energy programs and to help Massachusetts achieve its climate goals. He said that while renewable energy sources like offshore wind will eventually become a significant part of our energy portfolio, it will take some time. In the meantime, we still have to meet our emissions goals. He also stated that the calculations of his department show that the state will experience net greenhouse gas emissions reductions over the next few years by burning wood rather than natural gas.
Caitlin Sloan, vice-president of the Conservation Law Foundation, Massachusetts, disagrees.
The [Department of Energy Resources]She has been trying to weaken these regulations on biomass for over three years, as evidence mounts that wood burning for electricity is extremely inefficient and produces unsustainable amounts of local pollution and climate-damaging emission, she claims.
The law requires the office of Energy and Environmental Affairs to conduct a study on the health and emissions associated with biomass. This is required by the landmark Climate Law of last year. The study will not be completed until next summer.
The Secretary of State will likely receive regulatory changes from the Department of Energy Resources before the deadline.
The Department of Energy Resources is hosting a virtual hearing on the rule changes on Tuesday March 29 at 1:45 p.m. People interested in attending the hearing can register for a Zoom link Here.You can find more information on how to submit public comments Here.