The Massachusetts Land Court ruled that a building permit issued in 2011 to Palmer Renewable Energy has long expired, dealing a blow to plans for a $150 million, 35-megawatt wood-burning power plant long planned for East Springfield. The project was opposed by the state’s U.S. senators, the community and environmental groups.
“Low-income neighborhoods have lacked access to critical resources like healthy food for decades, and About Fresh aims to change that,” said Gina Foote, CLF’s Director of Impact Investment. “Supporting this small business with an innovative high impact investment has the potential to build a healthy community. We’re proud to support a thriving small business like About Fresh trying to improve their neighborhood.”
“Governor Healey’s commitment to transparency around the state’s climate goals is a much-needed change of pace from the previous administration,” said Caitlin Peale Sloan, Vice President of CLF Massachusetts. “The data shows that we are clearly missing the mark in some critical areas, and it’s so important that we do not leave frontline communities behind in this process. The report card is a good baseline, but it’s time to put in place some new regulations to get us where we need to go on slashing emissions and preparing our communities.”
“It is unconscionable that anyone would build such a dirty power plant right across the street from a residential neighborhood,” said CLF attorney Johannes Epke. “Inefficient biomass plants like the one proposed here don’t make sense anywhere in 2023, and especially not in a community in Springfield already overburdened by air pollution. Burning wood for electricity worsens asthma and other respiratory conditions and sets us back in reaching mandatory climate goals, and the court made the right decision.”
COP28 is a reminder that local governments can act on climate even when political debate stymies global negotiations
Right whale mothers and calves are especially vulnerable to being hit by boats and ships. For the species to survive, we need to better protect them.
Outdoorswoman Mardi Fuller has reveled in nature all her life – hiking, backpacking, paddling, and more. In fact, the mountaineer, who enjoys hiking, backcountry skiing, and ice climbing, has earned a rare distinction: In January 2021, she became the first Black person to hike all 48 of New Hampshire’s 4,000-foot peaks in winter. “Maybe 1,000 people… Continue reading Mountaineer Mardi Fuller on Racial Equity in Nature
The Conservation Law Foundation reached an agreement with Schnitzer Steel over heavy metal pollution going into the water in New Hampshire, Massachusetts, and Puerto Rico
“It’s plain and simple: burning wood pollutes our air and worsens the climate crisis,” said Elena Mihaly, Vice President of CLF Vermont. “McNeil is a dirty facility that’s approaching the end of its life, and this proposal will give it a lifeline to pollute for years to come. From a climate perspective, we have no choice but to move past burning wood for electricity in favor of clean energy like wind and solar.”
“It’s about time this multi-billion-dollar company complied with the law,” said CLF attorney Chelsea Kendall. “Toxic runoff from Schnitzer’s facilities has been contaminating waters that people depend on for drinking and recreation. This $3 million settlement will go a long way towards cleaning up these rivers and ensuring the company ends this harmful pollution”
