Environmental Justice Committee

We are the canaries in the coal mine!

The Arise Environmental Justice Committee was launched in 2009, born out of community resistance to a proposed biomass waste incinerator in a residential Springfield neighborhood. Residents turned to Arise for support—and together, we built a powerful coalition that stopped the incinerator in its tracks. That victory was more than a win against pollution; it was the beginning of a long-term commitment to fighting environmental racism and injustice in our city.

Since then, Arise has become a leading force for environmental justice in greater Springfield. Our work centers the lived experiences of low-income and BIPOC communities who bear the brunt of environmental harm. From our city’s failing air quality grades to the high rates of asthma and respiratory illness in our neighborhoods, we shine a light on the crisis—and we organize for change.

Our committee fights to hold polluters accountable, improve air quality, reduce neighborhood-level pollution, and pass bold environmental policies that prioritize health, equity, and justice. We’ve helped shut down polluting industries, shifted Springfield’s largest polluter from coal to natural gas, and co-founded the Springfield Climate Justice Coalition—now over 35 organizations strong.

Today, we continue to lead the charge against the expansion of dangerous gas infrastructure in our communities. We believe environmental justice is inseparable from racial justice, economic justice, and public health—and we’re not backing down.

To get involved or learn more, contact the Arise office at 413-734-4948. The fight for clean air, safe neighborhoods, and environmental equity belongs to all of us.

BIOMASS – The ZOMBIE Issue

Since 2009, Arise has stood firm against what opponents ominously call the “zombie” biomass plant—and now, its specter has returned. Two recent court rulings have revived the long-expired permits for the Palmer Renewable Energy incinerator, threatening to replenish pollution in our city; A city already ranked the nation’s fourth‑worst “asthma capital” in 2024. Residents and Arise members alike have raised alarm: Springfield already battles high asthma rates, with many families living with daily respiratory fears. This renewed push to resurrect the facility underscores the enduring importance of our Environmental Justice Committee, and Arise urges all allies to rally once more to stop this health hazard from rising again.