State House News Service
BOSTON - State leaders are preparing to announce a major effort to lure biofuel companies, focusing on incentives for the production of non-corn-based ethanol.
Expected to be announced Monday, the proposal seeks to encourage biofuel investment by stimulating demand. Officials are hoping the plan can reap environmental benefits while nurturing an industry that capitalizes on in-state natural resources.
Gov. Deval Patrick said last week that the plan will pursue cellulosic ethanol, a non-corn-based biofuel, using resources the state can rely on, including cranberries, algae and switchgrass.
"The idea is to try to make a more robust market for alternative fuels, and really set a benchmark for how we might approach this as a nation, particularly cellulosic ethanol," Patrick told the News Service.
The plan leans on a study commissioned by U.S. Rep. William Delahunt's office that finds Massachusetts poised to host an industry on the rise as concerns about climate change and oil dependence increase.
Last week, Senate President Therese Murray said the biofuels effort would reduce reliance on imported oil and encourage the use of fuel blended from agricultural sources.
"We all have to recognize that Massachusetts is simply not going to be a major producer of corn in this country, especially when compared to the states in the Midwest and Great Plains. Massachusetts does, however, have a number of plentiful agricultural sources for the next generation of biofuels," including wood chips, cranberries and algae, Murray said during a speech to the Greater Boston Chamber of Commerce.
A number of companies have already started commercializing research in the conversion of agricultural products into fuel, and earlier this month a group of clean-tech associations coalesced to form the New England Clean Energy Council, a group expected to push for tax incentives and advanced renewable portfolio standards.
In July, Delahunt met on Beacon Hill with top lawmakers and Patrick aides, discussing the importance of biodiesel as a way to ease the need for foreign oil, which many say compromises U.S. foreign policy. During a meeting in House Speaker Salvatore DiMasi's office, they discussed incentives like infrastructure improvements. Later, DiMasi said the state would focus "some on the production side and some on the refinery side."
A DiMasi spokesman said the biofuel effort was "a natural offshoot" of DiMasi's energy reform bill, which lawmakers say could emerge from committee next week.
With employment rates that still trail the national recovery, Massachusetts policymakers are aggressively pursing "new economy" sectors like stem-cell research and biofuel development as new job generators. A biotechnology caucus has formed in the Legislature, and Patrick and lawmakers have repeatedly entreated that industry to press its case on the Hill.
A spokesman for Energy and Environmental Affairs Secretary Ian Bowles declined comment.
With the Patrick administration's emphasis on clean energy, biofuel appears ripe for attention. Struggling cranberry growers could see a new market for the crops grown widely in southeastern Massachusetts.
"Our belief is that there's lots of ways to launch bold energy legislation which helps to create a strong market for both clean energy generation and the companies that develop technologies that enable clean energy generation," said Nick d'Arbeloff, co-executive director of the New England Clean Energy Council.
Under an executive order Patrick signed earlier this year, starting with the winter of 2007-2008, the state will use bio-heat products with a minimum blend of 3 percent bio-based materials for all heating applications that use No. 2 fuel, and 10 percent bio-heat blend by 2012.
State House sources said an announcement was originally scheduled for last week, but was pushed back after the Red Sox won the World Series.
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Lanesborough Town Meeting to Vote Budget, Bylaws & Vehicle Purchases
By Breanna SteeleiBerkshires Staff
LANESBOROUGH, Mass. — Tuesday's annual town meeting includes a $14 million operating budget, new short-term rentals, accessory dwelling units and sign bylaws, and free cash article appropriations.
Voters will gather at Lanesborough Elementary School on June 9 at 6 p.m. to decide on 20 warrant articles.
The fiscal 2027 budget is up a little over 10 percent. Some of the main increases are the Mount Greylock Regional School District and McCann Technical School: the McCann assessment is up more than 30 percent based on factors including enrollment and the school renovation project, and Mount Greylock's is up 11 percent.
Article 11 is for the town to vote to approve from free cash the sum of $16,298.48 for the McCann Technical School roof and window replacement project so as not to impact the budget. Article 3 is appropriate $7,586,284 for Mount Greylock Regional School assessment.
Another notable increase was in life and health insurance, showing an increase of about 26 percent.
Ambulance Director Jen Weber is planning 24-hour coverage, which means more staff and a hike in her budget. One of the articles asks the town to appropriate $234,100 to operate the Ambulance Enterprise Fund for salaries and expenses.
Many town departments are looking for new vehicles. The Fire Department is looking to replace its outdated 1996 fire engine. There are two articles related to the truck at a total of $813,366. Article 12 would transfer $225,000 from free cash into the Fire Truck Stabilization Fund; Article 13 would transfer $605,000 from the fund and authorize the borrowing of $208,366.08.
The total includes a $100,000 contingency cost to cover any additional costs if a 2026 model-year chassis cannot be secured before new emissions standards go into effect in 2027.
The board at its last meeting moved the $225,000 transfer to come before the borrowing article, changing the stabilization number. If the $225,000 is not voted on, then they will amend the next article's number on the floor, subtracting the $225,000. This shows the borrowing number significantly lower.
Article 17 asks for the transfer of $80,000 from free cash to replace a police cruiser.
Police Chief Rob Derksen's aim is to replace one vehicle every other year, meaning the oldest vehicle gets replaced about every 10 years.
He stressed that if delayed this year, the town may have to double up in a future year to get back on schedule, and that paying later usually costs more. The article will ask for $80,000 from free cash, the vehicles used to be funded by the BHRD.
Lastly, the Highway Department is looking to replace a 2014 International dump truck that will be a total of $330,000 and will take two to three years to receive.
Money will be used from last year's approval of $250,000 from free cash for the replacement of a 2012 highway front-end loader that was underspent $49,261. Town meeting is being asked to approve a transfer of $53,274.85 from free cash and the use of $227,464 from funds from the Sale of Town Real Estate to fund the balance.
Other free cash proposals include $1,200 to purchase software to support tracking and ongoing maintenance schedules of town-owned vehicles; $42,000 for the replacement of the Highway Department's storage shed roof, $200,000 to reduce the tax levy.
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