After a scorching summer with record-breaking heat waves, activists are calling on Massport to cancel a proposed expansion of private jet hangar space at Hanscom Field Airport. Private jet travel is extremely carbon-intensive, polluting far more than commercial flights, and serving mostly multimillionaires or billionaires. Despite this, developers are working with Massport to expand hangar space, which would add thousands of private jet flights and tons of CO2 emissions each year.
Resistance to the project is growing, with over 13,500 signatures on a petition to halt the expansion and over 1,500 public comments submitted in opposition. The National Trust for Historic Preservation has designated nearby landmarks as endangered due to the increased noise and environmental impacts the expansion would bring.
Lawmakers are pushing to update Massport’s charter to align with climate goals, as the current proposal contradicts the state’s climate policies. The private jet lobby may claim to be developing alternative fuels, but a recent study found no realistic way to reduce emissions from private jet travel. Expanding private jet operations during a climate emergency is deemed irresponsible, unjustifiable, and must be stopped to prevent setbacks for the state, climate, and historic landmarks.
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