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Group tries to curb biomass’ green stance

E-mail|Link|Comments (3) Posted by Boston Globe Business Team October 16, 2009 05:41 AM

Biomass power plants, in the state’s eyes, is as renewable as solar or wind. That’s because officials say the heat-trapping gases emitted from the burning of wood can be quickly reabsorbed by planting new trees.

But a group of people in western Massachusetts – where several biomass plants are proposed – claim it as dirty as coal. They say the heat-trapping gases it emits, along with toxic emissions such as arsenic and particulate matter that cause asthma should not allow them to get lucrative renewable energy credits for clean energy.

Now, the group has announced a statewide campaign to place a question on the 2010 ballot to limit carbon dioxide emissions – the main ingredient in global warming – to 250 pounds per megawatt hour. That would essentially prevent biomass plants from being built.

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3 comments so far...

Average carbon dioxide emissions for power generation by type of fuel, mostly from the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency:

solid waste 2990 lb/MWh
coal 2250 lb/MWh (like Brayton Point)
coal + IGCC 1800 lb/MWh
oil 1670 lb/MWh (like Canal)
gas 1140 lb/MWh
gas + CC 800 lb/MWh (like Mystic)

The only Massachusetts power plant that can run under 250 lb/MWh is Pilgrim Nuclear. The group from western MA would turn off more than 90 percent of the state's power.

Posted by AppDev October 17, 09 06:18 PM

The 250 lb/MWH would only be for biomass plants, those that are considered "green" alternatives to coal and are receiving renewable energy credits (money) to start up and operate. Coal extraction and burning is nasty, but biomass incineration is not what we should be turning to.
Info on the ballot can be found at www.stopspewingcarbon.org

Posted by No Biomess! October 20, 09 04:03 PM

AppDev you misunderstand the ballot question: it only applies to incinerators that are being subsidized as clean energy under the Global Warming Solutions Act. It will make sure that incinerators that burn biomass and trash to generate electricity do not get lucrative state and federal subsidies.

The ballot question gives taxpayers and rate payers the opportunity to vote on whether they want their money for clean and green energy to go wind, solar, geothermal or forms of clean energy instead of incinerators.

The corporations can still build their biomass incinerators, they just won't get citizens to subsidize them. According to industry data, 65% of the cost of building a biomass incinerator comes from tax and ratepayers. The corporations make huge profits while making global warming worse.

Posted by MegSheehan October 20, 09 06:26 PM