Biomass

Burning forest biomass to produce electricity releases 50 percent more carbon dioxide (CO2) per unit of electricity than coal. The rapid injection of CO2 into the atmosphere from biomass burning creates an immediate addition to green house gases. Offsetting CO2 emissions through new tree growth requires many decades to a century or more. We need carbon reduction now, not decades from now. Furthermore, many trees will not reach maturity due to short-rotation harvest practices and destructive forest removals on private lands through land use conversion and poor leadership. Private property must be respected, but good forestry must prevail. Mother Nature needs it. We all do. The future of the planet is at stake. The combination of the flawed accounting of CO2 emissions from forest biomass burning and the polluting emissions produced by biomass burning necessitate the removal of biomass from the list of renewable electricity sources.