Please Support the Springfield City Council's Revocation of PRE's Special Permit
Attend the ZBA Hearing on January 25 to Stop this Incinerator from Being Built
Please mark your calendar and plan to attend the Zoning Board of Appeals hearing where our City Council will appeal the building permit issued to Palmer Renewable Energy to build a biomass incinerator in the heart of Springfield. It is crucial that you show your support to the councilors who voted for you and are fighting to help protect the health and well being of all the residents of Springfield. If the City Council wins their appeal, PRE's incinerator will be history! The case will be heard on January 25 at 6:00 pm in room 220 of City Hall.
In May 2011, the Springfield City Council voted to revoke the 2008 special permit for PRE's proposed biomass incinerator in East Springfield. In November 2011, the Springfield Building Commissioner issued a building permit for the same incinerator project, disregarding the need for the special permit. In December 2011, the Springfield City Council voted to appeal the issuance of this building permit.
We commend the City Council for their vote to appeal the building permit unlawfully issued to this incinerator, ensuring the integrity of the local zoning and permitting process. We are very pleased that City Council will be taking the next steps to protect against the impacts of a dirty incinerator that will threaten the health of residents in Springfield and beyond.
The pollution levels in Springfield and the surrounding areas are already dangerously high; according to the EPA's National Air Toxics Assessment on cancer risk and respiratory risk, the Springfield area is the most polluted region in the state and one of the most polluted in the nation. Allowing this incinerator to be built to emit more toxic pollutants into our air is counterproductive at a time when Springfield needs to clean up.
