DALTON, Mass.—The Green Committee seeks to collaborate with Crane & Company Inc. to investigate a non-fossil fuel option for its boiler. 

 

Since the Community Eco municipal solid waste incinerators in Pittsfield ceased operations, Crane & Company has used a temporary boiler.

 

The currency company proposed installing a permitted, dual-fuel boiler to generate steam for their processes. 

 

According to a fact sheet distributed by Crane & Company, the new boiler will be capable of using natural gas as the primary fuel. If natural gas is not available, the boiler will be able to use ultra-low sulfur diesel.

 

The state Department of Environmental Protection (MassDEP), Bureau of Air and Waste reviewed their Non-major Comprehensive Plan Application and determined that it complies with the Air Pollution Control regulations and current air pollution control engineering practice. 

 

This plan approval is limited to air pollution control regulation compliance and does not relieve Crane & Company Inc. from any other regulatory requirements.

 

"They are already having to jump through numerous hoops to comply with Massachusetts expectations about admissions," Green Committee member Todd Logan said. 

 

"It's a big deal. The difference is we're hoping that they'll consider something that's even less emitting than the very strenuous hoops they've already jumped through."

 

The new boiler appears to adhere to the guidelines set in Treasury Directive 75-02, which emphasizes the importance of environmental quality just as much as "economic, social, and other relevant factors," according to the committee's letter to MassDEP's Western Regional Office for the public comment period.

 

Additionally, it aligns with the Inflation Reduction Act, which aims to mitigate the expensive consequences of climate change.

 

"Like many Dalton residents we would love to see Crane & Co. continue to thrive in our corner of the Berkshires, while also implementing carbon reduction strategies to whatever degree possible," the letter read. 

 

The current boiler abides by MassDEP's "stringent" environmental regulations, Logan said. He said Crane is already making environmental improvements, but the committee wants to help them take it a step further. 

 

"We feel addressing Crane Currency's need for a steam generation system provides a great opportunity to review whether alternate non-greenhouse gas emitting technologies are available, appropriate, and cost-effective options," the committee's letter read.  

 

One of the concerns Crane & Company Inc. had when considering non-fossil fuel boiler options is that it won't meet the company's needs, committee members said during the meeting. 

 

There may be options available to Crane & Company Inc. that not only meet their energy needs but also further prevent environmental consequences, Logan said. 

 

Committee members also felt that there may be decarbonization funding from state and federal sources.

 

"From what the Green Dalton Committee has learned so far, there is hope. There do appear to be alternatives to natural gas and diesel boilers for steam system requirements at paper mills–or at least ways to reduce a complete dependence on fossil fuels," the letter read. 

 

"Crane already has extensive experience with waste-to-energy sources of steam from biomass, but there are also electric heat-pump-based options for both high temperature processes and space heating." 

 

There are other organizations who have already started utilizing electric heat-pump-based options including Atlas Copco, MAN Energy Solutions, and Vicinity Energy, the letter stated. 

 

The letter asked if these options have been considered and noted it could be beneficial to examine Crane Currency's exploration of alternative technologies, the potential challenges identified, and the projected return on investment for the proposed natural gas package boiler. 

 

"We look forward to an opportunity to discuss all of this with Crane, and to exploring ways our committee can assist," the letter read.

 

"Such collaboration would be very encouraging for Dalton community members working to support local decarbonization efforts, and this appears to be a very timely opportunity to consider transitioning away from fossil fuel dependence – to whatever degree is feasible and cost-effective – to the benefit of Crane Currency and a rapidly warming climate."