Biomass Energy Growing

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Monday, 20 December 2010 19:16

Washington, DC. December 2010 — Data coming from the Environmental Defense Fund (EDF) shows that existing and announced wood-based bio-energy products increased in 2010 by 35 percent, primarily across the southern states of Alabama, Arkansas, Florida, Georgia, Louisiana, Mississippi, North Carolina, South Carolina, Tennessee, Texas and Virginia. This news contradicts claims by the National Alliance of Forest Owners that the inclusion of biomass emissions in the EPA’s Clean Air Act greenhouse gas (GHG) permitting program hinders renewable energy development. www.edf.org  The total expected demand for wood biomass increased by 10 million green tons, a 76 percent hike in wood biomass demand across the region. “The science clearly shows that not all sources of biomass are equal in terms of their climate change impacts,” said Will McDow, manager of EDF’s Southeast Center for Conservation Incentives, and a member of both the North Carolina Forestry Technical Advisory Committee and Forestry Council. “The industry has known that EPA was planning to include biogenic emissions in permitting requirements in some way since last spring, yet this fact clearly has not dampened investors’ enthusiasm for bio-energy in 2010.” “The stakes are too high for EPA to rush to judgment in making biomass emission rules because these biomass plants will produce greenhouse gas emissions for 20 to 30 years,” concluded McDow. “EPA needs to take the time to get the accounting right for biomass emissions to spur the right investments and policies our nation needs to protect forest sector jobs and the natural resources we depend upon.” The Environmental Defense Fund, a leading national nonprofit organization, creates transformational solutions to the most serious environmental problems. EDF links science, economics, law and innovative private-sector partnerships. Follow them on Facebook: www.facebook.com/EnvDefenseFund and Twitter: http://twitter.com/EveryDayFactoid, and on www.edf.org. SOURCE: EDF < Prev   Next >