In December, 2011, it was 2 years since Massachusetts wisely suspended Renewable Portfolio Standard qualification for power plants that burn trees for electricity.  The state is working on regulations that will help protect forests, require maximum efficiency, and minimize climate change impacts.  Revised regulations are expected to be issued in early 2012.

Here is a brief summary of the history of events and regulatory proposals.  More information is available on the website of the Massachusetts Department of Energy Resources:

http://www.mass.gov/eea/energy-utilities-clean-tech/renewable-energy/biomass/renewable-portfolio-standard-biomass-policy.html

December 2008:  Publication of “Goodbye to Carbon Neutrality: Getting Carbon Footprints Right,” by Eric Johnson.  Read the article here:  Johnson Article

October 2009: Publication of “Fixing a Critical Climate Accounting Error: Rules for applying the Kyoto Protocol and national cap-and-trade Laws contain a major, but fixable, carbon accounting flaw in assessing bioenergy,”  in the journal Science.  Lead authors are Timothy D. Searchinger of Princeton Univ. and Steven P. Hamburg of Environmental Defense Fund.  Read the article here:  Science Magazine Article

Fall, 2009: Stop Spewing Carbon Campaign in Massachusetts launches grassroots ballot referendum effort.  Referendum aims to get a question on the 2010 statewide ballot to limit carbon dioxide (CO2) emissions from “renewable energy generating sources” that use biomass or trash (waste-to-energy).   These electric utilities would have to meet a CO2 limit of no more than 250 pounds per megawatt hour.  Read the ballot question here.  Initiative Petition 09 E-1

December 3, 2009:  Massachusetts Department of Energy Resources (DOER) suspends “consideration of biomass energy applications for qualification under the MA RPS program” pending study of greenhouse gas impacts.  Read the letter here: Dec. 2009 Letter  State commissions the “Manomet Study” on carbon policy for woody biomass.

June 2010:  Manomet Study issued.  Findings support citizen activist position that burning trees for electricity is worse for climate change than burning coal in a 40 year period.  http://www.manomet.org/node/322

July 7, 2010:  State announces it will revise the RPS regulations to ensure that renewable energy generating sources that burn woody biomass to make electricity will only qualify under the RPS its use is  consistent with the state’s Global Warming Solutions Act.  Secretary of Energy and Environmental Affairs Ian Bowles directs DOER to revise the RPS regulations under 225 CMR 14.00 by December 2010 to require renewable energy generating sources using woody biomass to meet specific criteria.  Read the July 7 letter here:  July 7, 2010 Directive

Stop Spewing Carbon Campaign announces it is withdrawing the ballot initiative, after collecting almost 120,000 signatures from Massachusetts voters.  SSC Press Release

September 17, 2010:  Massachusetts issues first draft of revised RPS regulations.  DOER conducts public hearings and takes public comments on the revised RPS regulations.

May, 2011:  Massachusetts issues revised draft RPS regulations.  Click here for draft regulations.  May 2011 RPS Regulations Draft  By state law, Massachusetts legislature must review regulations.  More on regulations here:  http://www.mass.gov/eea/energy-utilities-clean-tech/renewable-energy/biomass/renewable-portfolio-standard-biomass-policy.html

September, 2011:  Over 24 national, regional, statewide and grassroots groups call for stronger RPS regulations than proposed by DOER.  Rally held at State House on Sept. 19.   Activists deliver 5,000 more signed petitions to the Governor’s office calling for an end to subsidies for biomass electricity under the RPS.  Read more at www.stopspewingcarbon.org  Click here for Press Release Sept 19

January, 2012: DOER continues its efforts to refine the regulations to ensure that biomass energy qualifying under the Massachusetts RPS is consistent with sustainable forest harvest practices and climate change goals.

We will update this page as information becomes available.