Submitted by Corinne Doud
Last week when playing a tennis match in Bedford, private jet after jet flew over us. Our opponents commented on how many jets there were and asked if an airport was nearby. I told them about the Hanscom airfield and how Massport and private developers are proposing a 50-acre expansion of new hangars for private jets that would significantly increase the number of flights.
During our discussion, they were also surprised to learn that private jet owners pay no sales tax on their private jets (or their parts or upgrades) and that private jet owners can get tax write-offs for the purchase of their jets.
I am concerned about the climate, and Massport’s plans are a direct and immediate threat to Massachusetts efforts to combat climate change. Private jet emissions from Hanscom alone already cancel nearly 50 percent of the climate gains from all solar PV ever installed in Massachusetts.
The proponent of the development says that this project will not generate any new greenhouse gasses (GHG), yet it would generate between 150,000-220,000 new tons of CO2e.
If this project happens, private jet emissions from Hanscom alone would cancel nearly 70 percent of the climate gains from all solar PV ever installed in Massachusetts, which would seriously setback progress that our state, and our climate, cannot afford.
The proponent claims ”This project will eliminate 3,543 ferry flights (empty flights), reduce overall flights, and produce zero GHG emissions.” However that is based on flawed methodology that has been refuted by a recently released detailed independent analysis. The report found that the project would eliminate only 132 ferry flights, but would add about 6,000 more regular flights with a resulting 150,000 tons of GHG per year.
The public comment period ends June 14, so we have until Friday to submit a public comment to the developers report opposing their expansion plan for private jets.
To build your comment to take a stand against this project, use one of these tool kits:
- Mothers Out Front Comment Toolkit (get inspired: slides and recording), or
- Coalition SPJE Comment Toolkit (get inspired, preview submitted Public Comments)
If you don’t have time to craft your own comment, use this expedited form to make your voice heard:
Also, sign this coalition petition to Governor Healey, and sign this National Trust petition to Secretary Buttigieg and the Governor.
The opinions expressed in Letters to the Editor are those of the writer, not The Bedford Citizen.
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