“A man is rich in proportion to the number of things which he can afford to let alone.” - Henry David Thoreau
Protecting our forests in this time of climate crisis and biodiversity collapse is recognized as an important way to protect our environment and our future health and well-being. Two bills have been submitted to the Massachusetts Legislature this session. One would permanently protect 412,000 acres under the care and control of the Division of Conservation and Recreation. The other would permanently protect 30% of the land owned by Fish and Wildlife, about 51,000 acres, by 2030. These state agencies already have land in reserves where intact ecosystems are influenced primarily by natural processes. These bills request more reserves than we now have, and give them legal protection that they do not currently have. Together these actions would help Massachusetts to do its part to help mitigate climate change and protect our native natural heritage.
Help to support our efforts! Donate today.
Save Massachusetts Forests is a project of RESTORE: The North Woods.
URGENT ACTION NEEDED - OUR LOCAL CONTROL FOR ENERGY SITING IS UNDER ATTACK
The Commission on Energy Infrastructure Siting and Permitting appointed by Governor Maura Healey has released a draft of its recommendations that removes local control and regional oversight for the siting of renewable energy facilities and certain utility infrastructure. Public comments are now being accepted.
3- Or both.
4 - Please forward to your friends, and town Boards ( Planning Board, Zoning Board, Conservation Commission, Board of Health) who will be severely hobbled and basically shut out of the permitting process for large scale solar, battery energy storage systems, wind turbine facilities ( including onshore), biomass and more.
To: CEISP@mass.gov
cc: mike.barrett@masenate.gov; jeffrey.roy@mahouse.gov, (they are the Chairs, Joint Committee on Telecommunications, Utilities and Energy)
Include your name, town and your email address.
Background:
There is no representation on the Commission from Barnstable County, Duke’s County, Nantucket County or Berkshire County where much of the proposed reform will impact.
- Municipalities would be stripped of permitting authority, and would only be allowed to submit advisory opinions to the state agency. They could conduct fact-finding with applicants and the public, but would otherwise have no local role.
- Any reviews at a local level would be a consolidated review, combining Zoning Board of Appeals, Conservation Commissions and other local boards who may have opposing views and rulings but would need to issue one opinion.
- The definition of clean energy projects removed from local control could be expanded to include not just commercial solar and wind turbine facilities and landfill-gas sites, but also energy-storage facilities (such as massive battery complexes and pumped-storage ponds), certain utility transmission and distribution infrastructure and biomass.
- This single state agency would likely also be responsible for fossil fuel generation facilities, pipelines, and liquified natural gas storage units.
- Other state agencies would also be stripped of permitting authority such as the Massachusetts Environmental Policy Act or MEPA review which is currently required for many energy-related projects, particularly larger ones and would need to align with other agencies which have had historically opposing rulings.
- Only “intervening parties” would be allowed to file briefs on disputed issues through evidentiary hearings held by the single state agency. This severely restricts who is allowed to participate in legal proceedings.
- If the single state agency did not issue a permit within a restricted timetable, a consolidated permit would be issued automatically to the developer under a pre-defined set of permitting conditions, a so-called constructive permit.
- Regional regulatory oversight, in the counties that have that right would be eliminated which is critically important to maintain checks and balances.
The Commission’s recommendations are expected to be followed immediately by legislative action.
Send a Letter: State Legislation on Municipal Powers to Regulate Solar
Send a letter to state legislators asking them to co-sponsor S. 1319/H.2082
_Solar Fact Sheet.March 16 2023.pdf
Adobe Acrobat document [160.3 KB]
IT'S TIME TO STOP SUBSIDIES FOR BIOMASS IN MASSACHUSETTS
and protect our forests
See the ACTION - MA Biomass Subsidies page
In the news - Carbon Forestry Committee Report released-
Report of the Climate Forestry Committee: Recommendations for Climate-Oriented Forest Management Guidelines https://www.mass.gov/doc/forest-as-climate-solutions-climate-forestry-committee-report-final/download
“Unsurprisingly, disturbing the forests of Massachusetts as little as possible and allowing forests to grow and age through passive management is generally the best approach for maximizing carbon, ecological integrity, and soil health.” (page 4)
More information about this report is here: https://www.mass.gov/info-details/forests-as-climate-solutions
Past News
In the news- Massachusetts state land logging moratorium petition delivered to Governor Charlie Baker
https://www.recorder.com/Petition-seeks-to-stop-logging-on-state-owned-land-46824885
Pre-eminent Biologist E.O. Wilson Supported Our Bills
to Protect State- Owned Land
"I strongly support this bill, which would permanently protect 13 percent of the Massachusetts land area, reaching from the Berkshires to the Atlantic Coast. This is the single most important action the people of thestate can take to preserve our natural heritage. As it has many times in the past, Massachusetts can provide leadership on this issue, inspiring other states across the country to take similar bold action."
With best wishes,
Edward O. Wilson
E.O. Wilson In support of HD.3500 (10).p[...]
Adobe Acrobat document [137.1 KB]
July 6, 2019
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