Editor’s note: This op-ed is by Rebecca Ryan, director of health promotion and public policy at the American Lung Association in Vermont
The renewable energy policy decisions Vermont policymakers make will affect two of the state’s greatest resources: its forest and its people. With such valuable resources at stake, the American Lung Association urges the governor and the Legislature to consider the health impacts of electricity, transportation and heating policy, especially on our children, the elderly and those living with chronic disease.
Overwhelming evidence shows that fine particulate matter – like that from a smokestack or chimney – can cause premature death. Particulate matter can increase the risk of heart disease, lung cancer and asthma attacks. Renewable energy policy that incentivizes biomass electricity will increase air pollution, including the quantity of dangerous fine particulates. Vermont now has the highest rate of adult asthma in the country, and increased pollution from biomass burning won’t help. This is one superlative Vermont cannot afford.
Fortunately, Vermont has a framework to develop healthy energy policy. The health department calls for public health impact assessments, as outlined in the Comprehensive Energy Plan and a recent health care reform report. A public health impact assessment can determine the health impacts of land use, transportation and energy planning. Of particular note, the Biomass Energy Working Group stated in its February report, “While the working group believes air quality and public health should certainly inform decisions regarding expansion of the biomass industry, this topic is outside the scope of [our] charge. The [General Assembly] should gather additional information on air quality effects to inform policy regarding expansion of the biomass industry.”
We respectfully request that the governor and Legislature adopt these recommendations and require public health impact assessments before any expansion of biomass energy so that subsequent energy policy will protect the health of Vermont forests and Vermonters.
