VICTORY! On July 7, 2010, Massachusetts regulators announced plans to end ratepayer subsidies for biomass incinerators. Read the state's letter outlining proposed changes to the state's Renewable Portfolio Standard. These conditions will require biomass incinerators to meet strict conditions and will prevent wood burning electric plants from obtaining renewable energy credits, a form of ratepayer subsidy.
MORE VICTORIES! Check out our monthly newsletter BIOMASS BUSTERS to learn about the latest citizen led victories over biomass incinerators. In 2010, citizen-led grassroots coalitions have killed plants in Gretna, FL, Traverse City, MI, North Carolina, Page City, VA and the world's largest tire incinerator that tried to disguise itself as "clean and green."
The Simple Truth: Biomass Burning is Dirty Energy
Burning biomass to make electricity is toxic, polluting and is neither "clean" nor "green." Biomass smokestacks emit more carbon dioxide per megawatt hour than burning fossil fuels, as well as NOx, particulates and other hazardous air and water pollutants that poison human health and the environment. The industry falsely claims that burning biomass and trash is "carbon neutral" - it is not. The industry claims biomass CO2 is unlike CO2 from fossil fuels - an obvious absurdity.
U.S. EPA defines "biomass" as burning just about anything- tires, trees, trash, poultry litter and more. Numerous federal energy and agriculture laws provide subsidies, tax credits, loan guarantees, and grants for biomass burning. Shockingly, the 2009 federal stimulus package, the American Recovery and Reinvestment Act (ARRA), contains billions in special giveaways for these incinerators that falsely call themselves "clean energy." Your tax money is being used to build toxic incinerators! The industry is targeting low income and rural communities, hoping to "fly under the radar."
Your Tax Money
The U.S. Senate is wants to give biomass plants more of your money. The Finance Committee is considering extending a production tax credit for existing incinerators worth at least $6 billion over ten years. Over 200 plants are lined up for at least $8 billion in grants from the U. S. Department of Treasury.
Citizens Speak Out
Across the nation, ordinary citizens and experts from every field are exposing the falsehoods behind the deceptive industry marketing that calls biomass burning "clean energy." For example, in Senator Bayh's home state of Indiana, citizens are exposing the toxic impacts of two wood burning biomass plants being promoted by "Liberty Green Renewables" as clean and green. In Massachusetts, over 100,000 registered voters signed a petition to change the law to eliminate these incinerators as a source of "clean energy."
Blowing the "cap" off "cap and trade"
The President and others are calling for reductions in our nation's greenhouse gas emissions of 17-20% over 2005 levels by 2020. That's impossible if we include biomass incinerators as a source of "renewable energy" - because even though these incinerators emit 50% more CO2 per megawatt than coal, this CO2 is treated as if it were "invisible" and its not counted.
According to the U.S. Department of Energy, by 2020 biomass incinerators will emit more than 700 million tons per year of carbon dioxide. That will be more than 11% of all U.S. greenhouse gas emissions in 2020, and as much as a third of total emissions by 2050. This 10% wipes out half of any 20% reduction in CO2 emissions by 2020.
Your health and community
The medical community is increasingly alarmed by the public health impacts of biomass incinerators. The Massachusetts Medical Society opposes them on the grounds that they present an "unacceptable risk to public health."
Your community - where you live, work and breathe, will be affected by these incinerators. They pollute the air, often burn wood from public forests and parks, pollute waterways with cooling water discharge and dry up rivers by using large volumes of water.
Your world - Whether you fish, hunt, camp, sight see, sail, fly, travel the world, or just enjoy your backyard, these incinerators will change how you live in the next thirty years.
Change the law and end handouts!
There is a simple and clear way to fix this problem. You can make a difference by telling Congress to adopt a law that links public subsidies (Renewable Energy Credits) for biomass power plants to the amount of their carbon dioxide reductions over coal burning.
Experts have known about the "biomass accounting error" that allows the carbon dioxide emissions escape regulation. Some hide behind calls for more "studies" that will only cause more delay - accelerating climate change impacts like Arctic ice melts and severe storms and increasing concern about impacts on human health. Changing the law now to limit public subsidies for biomass burning to their contribution to reducing climate change is an immediate, straightforward solution that can be implement NOW, before the crisis becomes worse.
Talk to your U.S. Senator or Representative. Make a personal visit if you can. Or, make a phone call or write or a personal letter. If you can't do any of these, a form letter or email will do.