Massachusetts lawmakers try new way to kill ‘zombie’ wood power plant

Massachusetts lawmakers are trying a new tactic to stop a long-fought wood-burning power plant proposed for Springfield. Both the state House and Senate have passed energy bills containing identical language that would stop electricity from wood-burning plants from counting toward the clean energy standards that the state's 41 municipal utilities must meet. That matters because those municipal utilities were seen as a likely customer base for the plant. Without that market, backers of the effort hope the project becomes financially unworkable.

The plant, proposed by developer Palmer Renewable Energy back in 2008, would burn wood waste in Springfield, a city already dealing with heavy air pollution and high asthma rates. Burning wood for power releases more carbon dioxide than coal and far more than natural gas, plus particulate matter linked to breathing and heart problems. The project has been declared dead more than once, only to be revived through court rulings on old permits. A case over one of those approvals is set for a hearing in December, and it's unclear whether the developer would also need a new local permit from Springfield before building.

This is a state policy fight, not something that changes any programs for homeowners right now. If you don't live near Springfield, it has no direct effect on your home or upgrades you might be planning. For residents near the proposed site, it's a sign the plant may finally be losing its financial footing, though the developer has not said whether it has another way to fund the project.