The Trash Incinerator
There used to be a trash incinerating plant across the street from Berkshire Crossing. Our project manager Lucas remembers being 8-13 years old and seeing the thick, grey clouds that smelled like sulfur coming from the smoke stacks across the street when he came out of the Barnes & Noble.
In 2020, a whistleblower who worked at the facility alerted the Berkshire Environmental Action Team that the situation had gotten worse from there. Degradation of the facility was leading to toxic smoke getting trapped inside the building and seeping out through the ceiling – putting the health of everyone inside at risk. Jane and Rose made sure the message got through to the City of Pittsfield, and after failing safety inspections, the incinerating plant was closed.
The Peakers
When the demand for energy rises, like in the dead of winter when folks need more heat or in the blazing summer when folks need more air conditioning, there is an increased pressure put on the energy grid. There are power plants that only run during these “peak” times, earning them the nickname “peakers” or “peaking power plants.”
These peakers, while they only run a small percentage of the time, are massive sources of airborne emissions when functioning. The startup process alone results in huge plumes of toxic smoke. The companies that operate them are paid millions of dollars annually just to stay ready for use.
Pittsfield used to have two peaking power plants, one behind Allendale Elementary School and one on Doreen Street. Thanks to the efforts of groups including the Berkshire Environmental Action Team, the one on Doreen Street closed.
That means our highest-emitting facility in Pittsfield is next-door neighbors with an elementary school and residential neighborhood.
With this project, we intend to finish cleaning up the city of major pollutants. We can achieve this through public support, planning and working together with local groups, and talking to our politicians.