Update, December 2022: In 2021, a permit needed to build the Palmer biomass plant was revoked by state officials. Palmer appealed that decision in an effort to have it overturned. Last month, Palmer lost that appeal. We’re revisiting our 2021 conversation with Tanisha Arena, executive director of Arise for Social Justice, about why this fight… Continue reading How Many Times Must a Community Say No?
“We can’t burn our way out of this problem,” said Caitlin Peale Sloan, Vice President of CLF Massachusetts. “Burning oil and gas in our homes pollutes our air and worsens the effects of the climate crisis. The commission’s report is absolutely correct: we need to start planning now for a cleaner future without gas, whether it’s fossil gas or alternative methane gases.”
“Burning wood for electricity is a bad idea to begin with and building a biomass plant in a residential neighborhood is just evil,” said Johannes Epke, Staff Attorney at CLF. “The Department of Environmental Protection was right to revoke this permit the first time around, and the appeals office has made the right call today. We will continue our piece of this fight to protect air quality in Springfield by representing the City Council in Land Court in opposition to this facility.”
“Toxic pollution from cars and trucks overheats the earth and clogs the air in our communities,” said CLF staff attorney Chase Whiting. “These new rules will help us tackle the climate crisis while cleaning up the air for people and families in Vermont. This is truly a win-win, and it’s a huge step forward towards our clean energy future.”
The 2022 midterms captured national headlines for weeks. We asked CLF experts how the results will impact climate action and environmental justice in New England.
Are fuels derived from crops and waste good climate solutions at scale? Short answer: No. Here’s why.
A recent piece by Anne George, Vice President of Public Relations for ISO-New England, calls CLF’s critiques baseless. Here’s why she’s wrong.
“No one can be allowed to skirt Vermont’s critical environmental laws,” said Elena Mihaly, Vice President of CLF Vermont. “With climate impacts at our doorstep, everyone—no matter how big or powerful – should be held accountable to Vermont’s climate requirements. This agreement makes sure that GlobalFoundries does its part to reduce climate pollution, advance energy efficiency, and transition to clean, renewable energy.”
The plan ignores the role state policy plays in spiking electricity costs while calling for more polluting natural gas.
Slashing polluting emissions from medium- and heavy-duty vehicles is a critical part of our climate fight.
