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Written by Cheryl Johncox
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Wednesday, 23 June 2010 |
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National Biomass Energy Debate Coming to Ohio.
June 22, 2010
Recent news reports covering the downside of biomass energy proposals have generated articles in the Washington Post, Boston Globe, Biomass Magazine and Environment and Energy Daily. This debate on biomass energy generation is now coming home, making Ohio the ground zero of the argument.
Two reports published in recent weeks have established that burning woody biomass will cause greenhouse gas (GHG) levels to spike over the next several decades. The reports also outline the impossible task of meeting fuel demand for biomass energy generation without cutting down our forests. An Environmental Working Group Report released on Wednesday titled "Clear Cut Disaster Carbon loophole threatens U.S. Forests" reveals why Ohio is front and center in this debate:
According to the report, "In Ohio, multiple proposals to co-fire biomass in coal plants have been proposed. Plant operators admit that whole trees, specifically white, interior trunk wood, are the only biomass fuel that will meet emissions requirements. The 1,125 megawatt Beckjord plant in Ohio has proposed to replace up to 100 percent of its coal consumption with biomass. Where will this fuel come from?
‘The most likely initial fuel will be woody biomass produced by whole tree chipping" from a 50-mile radius of a coal loading terminal on the Big Sandy River.- Beckjord application to the Ohio Public Utilities Commission – 2009’" http://www.ewg.org/clearcut-disaster
The report cites the BFC as a source and one of the several intervenors with the PUCO objecting to the granting of renewable energy credits, which will subsidize this destructive practice.
The Manomet Center for Conservation Sciences' Biomass Sustainability and Carbon Policy Study estimates that an enormous pulse of GHG could linger for more than 30 years in the atmosphere before growing forests would be able to recapture the CO2. http://www.manomet.org/node/322
The Buckeye Forest Council has been digging through scientific research, generating calculations on the amount of Ohio's forest that would need to be cut to supply the huge megawattage (up to 2100 MW) for the biomass proposals pending in Ohio. We have been working closely with other environmental and conservation groups, the Ohio Consumer Council, and national partners to draw attention to the flawed policies at the state and national levels that promote a short-term destructive practice of burning woody biomass, whole trees, and vast tracts of forest to generate electricity.
It is exciting to see Environmental Working Group taking up this issue and helping to expose Ohio’s role in the bad policies threatening forests nationally. Check out their report and let them know what you think. Visit buckeyeforestcouncil.org to support our important biomass work. Thank you!
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Last Updated ( Wednesday, 23 June 2010 )
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