2011.12.03 Press Release
Local Residents Rally to Ask Governor Patrick to Stand Up For Strong Clean Air Protections
Contact: Drew Grande (617) 302-6257, drew.grande@sierraclub.org
Pioneer Valley asthma rates high from coal pollution
Biomass is not a clean energy solution for air quality issues in Massachusetts
Springfield, MA – On Saturday, December 3rd, the Sierra Club Beyond Coal campaign hosted a Clean Air Rally in front of Gov. Patrick’s offices in Springfield. Several dozen public health professionals and local activists called on the Governor and the Massachusetts Department of Environmental Protection to protect our health and our air by retiring aging coal plants and looking at alternatives to dirty biomass incinerators in Central and Western Massachusetts. The crowd of activists was made up of moms, dads, grandparents and students concerned about the high rates of asthma caused from dirty coal and from unhealthy new biomass proposals.
The rally was addressed by public health professionals speaking about the increased rates of asthma in the Pioneer Valley caused from coal burning pollution and how those rates will be exacerbated if proposed biomass facilities come online. After professional testimony parents and elected officials stepped forward to call on Governor Patrick to have the Massachusetts DEP take action to protect their families and neighborhoods from dirty air pollution.
“Pioneer Valley and Western Massachusetts residents are unfairly burdened with unhealthy air. The Mt. Tom coal plant is linked to increased asthma rates, and multiple proposals to build dirty biomass incinerators will make regional air quality even worse, " said MA Sierra Club Director James McCaffrey. “Massachusetts has made tremendous strides on energy efficiency, and now we need to focus on retiring polluting coal and replacing it with clean energy that doesn't pump particulates and CO2 into the air and make our families sick. Quite simply, clean air and green energy doesn't come out of a smokestack, and the Governor needs to step up and say no to dirty energy in all forms.”
Also speaking at the rally to the crowd of 50 participants was Bill Ravanesi of Healthcare Without Harm who said, “The Pioneer Valley already has far too much polluted air. In 2009, Hampden County, where I reside, received an "F" grade for air quality from the American Lung Association. Children living in the county suffer from higher rates of asthma compared to the rest of the state. That's why I'm here today.”
The activists displayed 1,000 petitions from residents across Massachusetts calling on the Governor for stronger air pollution safeguards and announcing a business coalition of 30 partners. Presenting the petitions and business coalition were UMass Amherst Seniors Jon Midler and Eric Feltham.
At the rally Chris Matera of Massachusetts Forest Watch said, "While local citizens are working very hard to improve the polluted air in the Pioneer Valley by retiring the dirty Mt Tom coal plant, the irony is that because the Patrick/Murray administration has caved to industry by weakening the proposed biomass regulations, taxpayers may be forced to subsidize the construction of dirty, wood burning biomass incinerators instead.” Matera went on to say, “Now is the time for the Patrick/Murray administration to stand up for the public and clean air rather than the profits of wealthy developers by retiring dirty coal plants and restoring integrity to the biomass standards so that we do not worsen air quality, carbon emissions and deforestation through increased cutting and burning of trees."
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Contact: Drew Grande (617) 302-6257, drew.grande@sierraclub.org