March 10, 2025 • SUBSCRIBE TO THIS NEWSLETTER!

New Peaker Study Reveals Health Impacts of Pittsfield Generating Power Plant

As part of Put Peakers in the Past work, continuing discussions and analysis of Pittsfield Generating, our MA Clean Peak Coalition worked with the Applied Economics Clinic to conduct a study on the harms to Pittsfield communities from the plant. Pittsfield Generating is the familiar three-smokestacked fossil fuel fired power plant located near many of the city’s schools, neighborhoods, public parks, and the Housatonic River. 

Data gathered by AEC researchers show that “Pittsfield residents face heightened health risks due to their proximity to the Pittsfield Generating Facility and other air pollution sources; census tracts in Pittsfield tend to have higher rates of pollution-related health outcomes than other tracts in Berkshire County. Tracts located in Pittsfield, especially the Schools, senior centers, senior living facilities, and environmental justice communities near the plant, have the highest prevalence of asthma, chronic obstructive pulmonary disease, and stroke among the adult population compared to other census tracts in Berkshire County.”

After several years of advocating for replacing the Pittsfield Generating plant’s fossil fuel power with clean energy, such as a solar array combined with a battery energy storage system (BESS), we’re starting to see some key stakeholders join the discussion. Recently several business leaders interested in growing local job opportunities by attracting clean tech development acknowledged that the aging fossil fuel plant was a deterrent to some companies. 

Having this closer analysis of the public health benefits of transitioning toward battery storage and renewables strengthens the growing case to be made for realizing this goal. As the Report states, “This type of clean energy replacement is practical and viable, with examples already in process at several former power plants around the Commonwealth.”

» Read the study here

Help Reduce Demand

for Peaker Plants

Our Put Peakers in the Past campaign and our work statewide with the Mass Clean Peak Coalition are working on getting peaker plants to transition to grid scale battery storage and renewable energy generation. But another way to help reduce pollution for peakers is to reduce demand by shaving the peak.

Demand response is a set of solutions by which energy consumers reduce power use during periods of high demand. If demand is dialed back during heat waves and cold snaps, it can help prevent peakers from being called on to fire up.

» Read this month’s “Monthly Environmental News” from No Fracked Gas in Mass to learn more about demand response programs. 

» Sign up for Green Energy Consumers’ Alliance “Shave the Peak” program to receive and email or text when the grid is likely to cross into summer peak demand.

Lots of us taking small actions can prevent a few peaker plants from firing up. It can be as simple as turning our thermostat down a couple of degrees in the winter or up in the summer, postponing using washers or other heavy appliances or charging EVs during the peak demand hours.

From Mass Power Forward

Spiking Utility Bills? It’s not Mass Save’s fault!

If you still have natural gas service, you’ve probably noticed a jarring jump in your utility bills recently. There’s a (false) narrative out there in the news that the increase in rates is due to Mass Save.

The outrage over this has even caused regulators to slash Mass Save’s budget, cutting the program by $500 million at a time when we really need efficiency to not only cut climate-damaging emissions, but … drumroll … cut energy bills!

IT’S NOT MASS SAVE’s FAULT

This recent article from Groundwork Data explains why Mass Save is not the reason for the spike in gas bills. Senior Research Scientist Dorie Seavey breaks down the price increases for the three largest gas utilities in Mass, finding that up to 87% of the cost increases were on supply (price of gas) and delivery (cost of gas distribution system) charges. Part of that cost is also covering spikes in gas company executive salary increases.

She concludes, “Bills are higher for three main reasons: colder weather, the higher seasonal price of gas, and the ever-escalating cost of operating and maintaining our expensive pipeline distribution networks. Mass Save charges are not the main culprit: these charges have risen modestly and represent only a small slice of the overall cost increases, plus these payments support household investments that lower gas consumption and, therefore, customer bills.”

TAKE ACTION TO STOP THE PROFITEERING

Mass Power Forward has put together and action guide to push back against this steep increase: “What you can do to Stop Utility Profiteering”

If you’re on Facebook, join the ‘Protect People from Utility Profiteering’ page to share clear information about where the spike in utility costs is coming from and how to push back.

From Stop Private Jet Expansion

Forum: What Opportunities Does the Recently Passed MA Climate Bill Provide for Action in the Coming Months?

Sunday March 16, 12:30 - 2:00

First Parish in Concord

20 Lexington Road, Concord, MA

Also Broadcast by Zoom

Speakers: Mike Barrett and Elizabeth Henry

Mike Barrett, author of the climate bill, Senate Chair of the Legislature’s Committee on Telecommunications, Utilities and Energy.

Elizabeth Henry, current President of the Environmental

League of Massachusetts

» Link to attend webinar

» See Stop Private Jet Expansion’s latest Action Alert

Learn more about Enbridge's "Project Maple" plans for the Algonquin Gas Transmisison pipeline system.

Visit and bookmark StopProjectMaple.org to keep up as this and related projects unfold.

Peakers are a state-wide issue!

We’re gathering signatures from across the state to show support as we continue to look at other peakers as part of our work with the Mass Clean Peak Coalition.

» No matter where in MA you are, sign our Statewide Peaker Petition