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Hanscom Area Towns Committee (HATS)
<br /> June 22, 2023, Meeting Minutes
<br /> Pursuant to notice duly filed with the Town Clerks of HATS member towns,the HATS meeting convened in a hybrid
<br /> meeting at the Lexington Community Center and via video conference on June 22, 2023, at 7.04 pm.
<br /> Present:
<br /> Select Board Members: Doug Lucente, Lexington Select Board and HATS Chair, Emily Mitchell, Bedford Select
<br /> Board,Jim Hutchinson, Lincoln Select Board, Linda Escobedo, Concord Select Board (via Zoom)
<br /> Other HATS Members: Margaret Coppe, Lexington at-large; Charles Hornig, Lexington Planning Board Member;
<br /> Gary Taylor, Lincoln Planning Board Member
<br /> Guests Amber Goodspeed, Massport,Anna Winter,Save Our Heritage, Brooks Read, Carolyn Frost,Julie McCay
<br /> Turner,Lexington Observer; Mike Vatalaro, Massport; Olivia LeDuc; Rob Hamilton;Simone Monteleone, NPS;603-
<br /> 505-7894;Glen Kernusky, Hanscom Air Force Base;Terri Ackerman, Concord Select Board;Jeanne Krieger,
<br /> Lexington
<br /> Welcome and Introductions
<br /> Mr. Lucente welcomed attendees both in person and via Zoom and affirmed the meeting protocols. Members
<br /> introduced themselves
<br /> Presentation by Neil Rasmussen,President of Save Our Heritage
<br /> Mr. Rasmussen gave a presentation on the proposed North Airfield expansion at Hanscom Field,with a focus on
<br /> greenhouse gas emissions
<br /> The project goal is to expand infrastructure for private jets in response to expected growth in demand. Mr.
<br /> Rasmussen asserted that the project conflicts with the Next Generation Roadmap for Massachusetts Climate
<br /> Policy, as outlined in Chapter 8 of the Acts of 2021,which requires every sector of the economy to reduce its
<br /> greenhouse gas emissions by 2050.
<br /> Mr Rasmussen emphasized the importance of reducing greenhouse gas emissions now,to avoid compounding
<br /> issues in the future, and noted that the private jets expected to be housed in the new hangars serve a very small
<br /> population. He noted that private jets incur no sales tax,and private jet hangars are not assessed property tax on
<br /> Massport property State and local taxes on jet fuel are prohibited under federal law, although the taxes assessed
<br /> at Hanscom Field are allowed,since they were in place prior to new regulations in 1984 In response to a question
<br /> from Mr.Taylor, Mr. Rasmussen noted that the fuel tax revenue is shared among the four towns,and amounts to
<br /> roughly$100,000—$200,000 per town annually
<br /> Mr. Rasmussen questioned the developers'claim that the new hangars would promote energy efficiency and
<br /> reduce flight operations by eliminating"ferry flights." He also questioned Massport's assertion that flight
<br /> operations at Hanscom Field are declining While total flight operations are declining, most of the decline comes
<br /> from single-engine piston flights;jet operations increased 10%in 2022,from 33,400 to 36,808
<br /> Mr Rasmussen discussed the possibilities for low-carbon aviation, either through electric aircraft or sustainable
<br /> aviation fuels,asserting that neither option is practical or available now or in the near future Electric aircraft are
<br /> expected to replace propeller aircraft, not jets. Sustainable aviation fuel still emits roughly the same CO2e as
<br /> traditional aviation fuel.
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