A Letter to the Editor: Done right, biomass energy can benefit Port St. Joe
Why biomass energy is an important resource and how it can benefit a Florida town
To see the article in the Tallahassee Democrat, where it ran on October 14th, 2009, follow this link: http://www.tallahassee.com/article/20091014/OPINION05/91014007/1006/OPINION/My+View++Done+right++biomass+energy+can+benefit+Port+St.+Joe
Ben Larson
My View
Using biomass - wood and crop residues - to generate electricity can be a clean renewable energy source that cuts pollution, lessens our dependence on fossil fuel imports, and creates new markets for farmers and forest owners. With technologies to protect air quality and policies to protect forests, the Union of Concerned Scientists (UCS) strongly believes that increasing biomass use is a critical part of our nation's clean energy transformation.
Although UCS doesn't endorse specific power plant proposals, Port St. Joe residents should appreciate the broad benefits of biomass energy as it considers allowing Biomass Gasification and Electric's proposed plant to come to town. The Northwest Florida Renewable Energy Center will be developed, owned and operated by BG&E of Florida, LLC (BG&E) to transmit power to Progress Energy of Florida. The project was originally sited and permitted in the City of Tallahassee, but the project has now been moved to Port. St. Joe.
What we have
How does Florida's energy profile stack up now? Today, two-thirds of the state's electricity comes from burning coal and natural gas, which emit significant amounts of pollution that cause acid rain and smog, and cause or aggravate a wide range of acute respiratory and cardiovascular diseases. Mercury from coal plants pollutes waterways and winds up in fish. Women of child-bearing age are advised to limit their fish intake, since mercury causes brain damage and birth defects in children. Florida also relies heavily on nuclear power plants, which are expensive to build and have fuel that is dangerous and difficult to dispose of.
By contrast, renewable forms of energy - wind, the sun and biomass - have far fewer emissions, risks and costs than fossil fuels. Unlike nuclear fuel, no terrorist can do much harm with a wood chip. Compared to coal, biomass electricity generation releases negligible toxins. Additionally, biomass gasification is especially clean because the wood is "cooked" to release its flammable gases that are then burned to generate electricity. This greatly reduces the amount of particulates released through a plant's smokestack. The Port St. Joe plant would employ gasification technology.
Biomass also helps cut global warming pollution. When it comes to emitting carbon dioxide, the primary global warming gas, biomass is a mostly closed-loop circuit. The carbon dioxide released in burning biomass is taken up when trees and plants regrow. Conversely, when coal and other fossil fuels are burned, they add long-buried carbon dioxide into the atmosphere without removing any of it. A significant body of academic and government research shows that biomass-based electricity significantly decreases global warming pollution, especially when compared with coal.
We need sustainable sources
When people consider using biomass to generate electricity, they rightly wonder if local areas can sustainably supply wood or crop residues over decades. With smart policy at the state and federal levels, we can grow and harvest enough biomass to supply an expanding share of our energy mix over the long-term. UCS estimates that by 2030, enough biomass will be available to supply over 12 percent of our current energy needs.
In Washington, D.C., UCS is working to ensure that renewable energy laws include protections for critical lands, such as the Steinhatchee Conservation Area, and standards verifying biomass sources are grown and harvested sustainably. Through forest certification, forest management plans, and state-level best management practices, we can increase biomass use while avoiding long-term degradation of water quality, soils, wildlife habitat and biodiversity.
Last but certainly not least, biomass power can generate very compelling economic benefits, especially for Florida, which today exports dollars to import fossil fuels. For example, in 2006 alone, Florida spent $1.6 billion on coal imports. Florida spent $144 million to import nuclear fuels in 2004, the most recent year available for that data. A demand for biomass energy would allow Florida utilities to pay farmers and forest owners for their crop residues and trees and keep more of the state's energy dollars in the local economy. In addition to creating new income sources for farmers and forest owners, biomass plants also create local jobs.
All told, with the right safeguards in place, biomass energy is a clean, secure source of electricity that reduces air and water pollution, helps address global warming, and boosts local economies. Residents of Port St. Joe should keep this in mind.
Ben Larson works on biomass policy as an Energy Advocate and Field Manager for the Union of Concerned Scientists in Washington, D.C.
