New Report: Biomass Electricity: Clean Energy Subsidies for a Dirty Industry

Biomass Electricity: Clean Energy Subsidies for a Dirty Industry

The case for ending taxpayer and rate-payer subsidies that harm public health, environment, climate, and forest

 Download Report: Biomass Electricity Report.pdf

 

Audio of Report Presentation 6/28/2011 - CLICK to Play 

Speakers:

• Meg Sheehan, attorney, Biomass Accountability Project;
• William Sammons, M.D., pediatrician with expertise on health and fiscal impacts;
• Mary Booth, PhD, founder, Partnership for Policy Integrity, air emissions, forest and climate impacts
• Senator Marc Pacheco, Massachusetts Legislator, author of Global Warming Solutions Act, current Chair, Environment Committee
• James Maloy, Florida, citizen activist, defeated Adage/Duke/Areva biomass project
• Shane Avery, M.D., Indiana, medical doctor assisting biomass opponents
• Lee Ann Warner, citizen activist, Stop Toxic Incineration in Springfield, MA
• Margaret Dodd, Mayor, Traverse City, MI, defeated biomass projects in MI

Ten Frequently Asked Questions About Biomass Combustion 10 Frequently Asked Questions About Biomass Combustion Power.pdf

Press Release Press Release June 28 P.pdf

June 28, 2011: Eliminating federal taxpayer subsidies for commercial biomass electricity can result in more than $10 billion saved over the next 3 years and a minimum of $3 to $5 billion every year thereafter, according to a new report.*

Billions of dollars in taxpayer money is going to build dirty biomass incinerators, while health, environmental, community and fiscal watchdog groups fight them at the local, state and national levels. Dozens of communities have rejected proposals for biomass combustion power and many more are actively fighting them.

These subsidies are intended for clean energy but biomass is one of the most expensive, inefficient, and polluting forms of electricity generation.  The report documents over 100 facilities in the pipeline, with more proposed.  Federal funding, in combination with state Renewable Portfolio Standard mandates, are fueling the gold rush to build dirty biomass energy facilities.

Industry lobby groups, like the newly-formed Coalition for Clean and Renewable Energy that includes the biomass and garbage industries, are taking aim at Congress and the White House in an effort to ensure that future federal “Clean Energy Standard” legislation includes incentives for incinerators.  Meanwhile, hundreds of opposition groups continue to expand their campaigns, backed up by science and analysis showing that these projects are a waste of taxpayer money.