Sign-up and post on Iberkshires today.It's Free!
Already a member? Log In
39°  H- 93%
The Berkshires online guide to events, news and Berkshire County community information.
Saturday October 11, 2008
 Make us your homepage!
 

Daily Digest


Election Day Approaching
The last day for Massachusetts residents to register to vote in the Nov. 4 presidential election is Wednesday, Oct. 15. Out of town that day? Apply for an absentee ballot at your town or city clerk's office.

For more information or to find out if you are registered:
North Adams City Clerk: 413-662-3015
Williamstown Town Clerk: 413-458-9341


16. A ball atop a stone
17. Town and country


Find out what's happening in the Berkshires

How much is heating oil this week?
Need to contact iBerkshires? Here's how.
Win a restaurant gift certificate.

Obituaries

Orville Hamilton Thornall, 90
Archer A. Jones, Jr., 83
Robert A. Burdick Jr., 54
Lillian P. O'Brien, 88
More obituaries

Newest Videos


Fall Foliage Children's Parade

Clarksburg Police Station Open House

Bike Night in Adams

Sales Fliers

 
 

What's Playing


Michael Cera and Kat Dennings find love in a New York night in "Nick and Nora's Infinite Playlist."
Movie schedules and times

Columnists

That's Life

So Long, Shea Stadium

Sports N' Stuff

NFL Week 2

@theMarket

It's Gonna be a Long Way Back


Pick of the Week

Todd Rundgren


Outside the Berkshires

Statistics, Lies and Videotape
Just the facts on the Biden/Palin debate
Police Protest Road Work Change
No Takers for Mass. Debt

Putin Shoots a Tiger

 Search: 
 for    


Related Stories

 
Printer Friendly Version
   Recommend this story to a friend

Biofuels Task Force Plans Hearings in Lenox

Staff reports - January 08, 2008

LENOX - The state's new Biofuels Task Force will hold its first public hearing not too many miles away from the site of the planned $50 million Berkshire Biodiesel facility.

The task force will meet at Lenox Memorial High School, 197 East St., on Monday, Jan. 14,from 4 to 6:30 p.m.

The panel was created last fall to examine the use of biofuels and to make recommendations for legislation and regulations on their use and the development for an advanced biofuels industry.

The Legislature is working on a bill to promote the use of alternative energy, the Green Communities Act, and a bill filed last November would mandate the phased-in use of biofuels in heating oil and diesel fuel to reduce the state's carbon emissions and dependence on foreign oil.

Sen. Benjamin B. Downing, D-Pittsfield, was appointed to the task force in early December, just a week after he and Senate President Therese Murray toured what will become the Berkshire Biodiesel facility in Pittsfield. The task force was created through an agreement between Murry, House Speaker Salvatore Dimasi and Gov. Deval Patrick; each appointed three members.

The panel is chaired by Secretary of Energy and Environmental Affairs Ian Bowles.

As part of its work, the task force will develop a strategic framework to accelerate the research, development and deployment of commercially viable biofuels. Existing barriers to advancing biofuel innovation in the commonwealth will also be considered and legislative or administrative solutions to overcome those barriers will be filed by the task force with its final recommendations. The panel will also research the availability of federal grants for the advancement of biofuels.

The panel will accept oral or in written testimony at the hearing. There will be an opportunity to sign up for three-minute presentations at the hearing. Written comments will be accepted both before and after the hearing, but should be submitted no later than Jan. 31.

The next public hearing is scheduled for Jan. 17 at the State House, Room A-2, from 10 a.m. to 1 p.m. Two additional hearings are expected to be held in March.

Written testimony may be sent to:

        Massachusetts Executive Office of Energy and Environmental Affairs
        100 Cambridge St., Suite 900
        Boston, MA 02114
        Attn: Steven Clarke

Biofuels Task Force will file a report of its findings and recommendations with the governor and with the clerks of the House and Senate on or before March 31, 2008.

Expected to begin construction next year and begin operations in 2009, Berkshire Biodiesel will be the state's largest producer of biodiesel and will boast an output of 50 million gallons of biodiesel per year. Two other biodiesel plants are in the planning stages in Greenfield and Quincy. Officials say the price of biodiesel fuel will become more competitive as these plants come online.

Advanced Biofuels Task Force members:
  • Chairman, Secretary Ian Bowles, Energy and Environmental Affairs
  • Assistant Secretary David Cash, Energy and Environmental Affairs (secretary's designee)
  • Sen. Benjamin B. Downing
  • Bruce Jamerson, CEO, Mascoma
  • David Davenport, Department of Revenue
  • Sen. Pamela Resor, D-Acton, Senate chairman of theJoint Committee on Environment, Natural Resources and Agriculture
  • Sen. Bruce E. Tarr, R-Gloucester, Senate assistant minority leader
  • Rep. Frank Smizik, D-Brookline, House chairman Joint Committee on Environment, Natural Resources and Agriculture
  • Rep. Brian Dempsey, D-Haverhill, House chairman Joint Committee on Telecommunications, Utilities and Energy
  • Rep. Bradley H. Jones Jr., R-North Reading, House minority leader
                     
Your Comments
Post Comment
No Comments


iBerkshires.com Text Ads
sabor-restaurante.com
www.iberkshires.com
Bass Water Grill
Berkshire County's Best Kept Secret! Casual Dining At Its Best. Full Liquor License & Keno. 743-1911
www.iberkshires.com
Advertise on iBerkshires.com



Essentials
Berkshire Nightlife
Berkshire Photos
Berkshire Wallpaper
Borrow Movies
Class Reunion Page
Columnists
Dannyoart.com
Movie Times
Obituaries
Randy Trabold

Enter your email address below to receive our FREE iBerkshires.com Newsletter

| Home | A & E | Automotive | Business | Community News | Dining | Lodging & Travel |
| Real Estate | Schools | Sports & Outdoors | Berkshires Weather | Weddings | Berkshires Map |
Advertise | Recommend This Page | Help
Contact Us | Privacy Policy| User Agreement
Execution Time: 242 ms