| |
Daily DigestElection 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 |
| Need to contact iBerkshires? Here's how. |
Obituaries | Orville Hamilton Thornall, 90 |
Newest VideosSales FliersWhat's PlayingColumnists |
@theMarket
|
Outside the BerkshiresRelated Stories |
| |
Biofuels Task Force Plans Hearings in LenoxStaff 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
|
|
| iBerkshires.com Text Ads |
Bass Water Grill
Berkshire County's Best Kept Secret! Casual Dining At Its Best. Full Liquor License & Keno. 743-1911 |
Advertise on iBerkshires.com
|
Enter your email address below to receive our FREE iBerkshires.com Newsletter
|
