In response to your June 9 editorial, "Questions about biomass," among the many concerns regarding proposed biomass plants is that it draws attention away from the best strategy to reduce energy demands, create jobs, and lower consumers' utility bills: energy efficiency.
Building biomass power plants will not be the state's economic or energy panacea. Citizens are right to question the long-term local impacts from the projects, particularly deforestation and air and water pollution.
Biomass energy generation is better than burning coal, but with our state forests facing declines due to climate change and invasive insect infestations, it seems common sense to question the sustainability of a project with fewer benefits than wind or solar energy generation. Energy efficiency is the most cost-effective method of reducing the amount of energy our state uses — making it all that much easier to meet the remaining demand with truly clean, renewable resources.
Increasing Massachusetts energy efficiency will put thousands of people back to work and provide relief to increasing energy bills — all while keeping our natural environment pristine.
Allison Myers
Environment Massachusetts
Boston
