Rural Working Group Proposes Green Incentives
 |
The suggestion is one of several the group submitted to Gov. Deval Patrick for review on Wednesday.
The Rural Economic Development Working Group is also proposing the state invest more research in its forest produce industry and offer incentives to attract a new generation of farmers and foresters.
State Rep. Denis E. Guyer, D-Dalton, said the suggestions are aimed at aiding the forestry and farming industries and their potential partnership with renewable energy development in Western Massachusetts.
"The potential to link these industries to the biomass energy movement seemed very logical and has a strong potential to be very lucrative," he said.
The statewide group was organized by Guyer last May after the farming and forestry field were hit by rising energy prices that have continue hurt the local industry.
Guyer, whose wide-flung 2nd Berkshire district consists primarily of small rural and hilltowns in Berkshire, Franklin and Hampshire counties, said he was concerned about the future viability of this sector of the local economy and so gathered key players from across the commonwealth to brainstorm ideas.
Their meetings have resulted in a group of initiatives designed to stimulate the forestry and farming economy through green technology and renewable energy. It is expected that the Patrick administration will be releasing its comments on the stimulus package sometime in February.
"I originally called these meetings after receiving feedback from individuals in the forestry industry who were having growing concerns about their business' futures if they could not find an expanded market," said Guyer. "This working group embraced the issue and found a similar need in the farming community."
He said the group has put a lot of hard work into developing a plan that will not only benefit those in the forestry, agriculture and energy communities, but the people of the commonwealth as whole.
"Through this work, we are encouraging the production of clean energy, the conservation of our forest and farmlands and creating jobs to boost our economy." said Guyer.
Participants of the working group include state Environment and Energy Affairs Secretary Ian Bowles, Undersecretary of Energy David Cash, representatives from Economic Development Secretary Daniel O'Connell's office, state Rep. Steven Kulik, D-Worthington, state Rep. Daniel E. Bosley, D-North Adams, state Sen. Stanley Rosenberg, D-Northampton, and state Sen. Benjamin B. Downing, D-Pittsfield, and Dicken Crane, president of the Massachusetts Forestry Association.
