Biomass Loophole: Sen. Gómez’s Bill Explained
- Adam Gómez is advocating for legislation to revise greenhouse gas emission standards for municipal lighting plants (MLPs).
- The bills would remove woody biomass from the list of sources MLPs can use to meet emission standards established by the 2021 Climate Roadmap Law.
- The senator emphasized the community's long-standing opposition to the proposed biomass incinerator.
Massachusetts Senator Adam Gómez launches a legislative challenge to the “biomass loophole,” aiming to reshape clean energy standards for municipal lighting plants. His bills directly target the inclusion of woody biomass, potentially halting a controversial wood-burning incinerator in Springfield, driven by community opposition for over 15 years. Gómez argues these measures are crucial to align climate policy with scientific integrity, safeguarding communities. This impacts the debate over biomass energy’s role in meeting climate goals within massachusetts. news Directory 3 reports on the push to ensure public dollars are used responsibly. Discover what’s next as the bills face committee review and further debate in the state legislature.
Massachusetts Senator Aims to Close Biomass Loophole
Updated June 28, 2025
BOSTON – State Sen. Adam Gómez is advocating for legislation to revise greenhouse gas emission standards for municipal lighting plants (MLPs). Teh proposed bills aim to eliminate what he calls the “biomass loophole,” a move that could halt the progress of a controversial wood-burning plant in Springfield.
The bills would remove woody biomass from the list of sources MLPs can use to meet emission standards established by the 2021 Climate Roadmap Law. Gómez argues that allowing biomass undermines the law’s intent.
The senator emphasized the community’s long-standing opposition to the proposed biomass incinerator. “For over 15 years, we have fought this same fight, with the people of Springfield continuously saying ‘no’ to a biomass incinerator in our community,” Gómez said.
“This facility is not new, it’s not needed, and it’s not safe,” Gómez said. “These bills are not just about words on a page. They are about shutting off the flow of public dollars and clean energy subsidies to a facility that has no business being called ‘green.'”
Gómez added that the legislation seeks to protect communities like Springfield from being “sacrificed for someone else’s profit” and ensure that climate policy is guided by science, not lobbying efforts. The debate over biomass energy and its role in meeting climate goals continues in Massachusetts.
What’s next
The bills now face committee review and further debate in the Massachusetts legislature. The outcome could significantly impact the future of biomass energy projects in the state.