Wood fueled biomass power plants emit about 50% more CO2 per MWh than existing coal plants, 150% more than existing natural gas plants, and 330% more than new natural gas power plants.

Incinerating biomass in power plants creates more particulate matter (PM) than coal burning. Particulate matter is associated with asthma, heart disease, and cancer — as well as nitrogen oxides (NOx) and volatile organic compounds (VOCs) — two ingredients of the ground-level ozone that causes asthma in children and exacerbates pulmonary and cardiac disease problems.

Five proposed biomass incinerators in Massachusetts would consume the equivalent of 50 football fields of trees every day.

Massachusetts already gets 49% of its renewable energy from polluting biomass incinerators.

Truly clean, zero waste renewable energy sources such as solar, wind, tidal, and small hydro-electric are the future of Massachusetts energy production. There are also many simple efficiency and conservation measures that can be easily implemented, costing ratepayers and taxpayers far less than new power plant production.