Stephen Kulik

BOSTON — Opponents of a bill to establish the Mohawk Trail Woodlands Partnership Fund say it is a “classic Trojan horse” to expand biomass energy production in western Massachusetts under the guise of sustainable forestry. But Rep. Stephen Kulik, D-Worthington, who proposed the legislation, says wood energy is not a focus of the bill and economic development comes second to forest conservation. “I can say flatly and honestly that this is a very straightforward utilization of forest resources,” Kulik said. “These charges are completely false and misleading, and are, unfortunately, being spread by a small group who are deliberately mischaracterizing this bill.” . …“It takes us in the opposite direction from what is needed to pave the way to a clean energy future,” stated a press release from the Concerned Citizens of Franklin County & MTWP Advisory Committee, Restore the North Woods and Mass Forest Rescue Campaign.