Feeding the zombie plant: The struggle over biomass in the United States

In early 2008, limited liability corporation Palmer Renewable Energy submitted a proposal to the state of Massachusetts to build a new biomass power plant in Springfield, an environmental justice community where many residents identify as low-income and people of color. This article elucidates the complex and intertwining legal, political, and policy avenues that corporations use to advance their interests under the guise of promoting renewable energy and reducing carbon emissions. As this case demonstrates, the fate of public health and environmental protection lies in often ambiguous and contested definitions of what is renewable, what counts as an incinerator, and who has standing and prosecutorial discretion. Based on interviews with key activists, lawyers, and officials, combined with readings of articles, reports, and lawsuits, we uncover the mechanisms through which this company sought to advance corporate profit interests amidst increasing pressure from state and regional climate initiatives aiming to accelerate decarbonization of electric generation.