burning new england's forests for electricity?

BURNING NEW ENGLAND’S FORESTS for ELECTRICITY?

Threats to public health, climate & forests from biomass power incineration

BIOMASS:WHAT’S IN A NAME?

PLANT? PLANT

BIOMASS = HEALTH THREATAmerican Lung

Association:

“Burning biomass could lead to significant increases in emissions of nitrogen oxides, particulate matter and sulfur dioxide and have severe impacts on the health of children, older adults, and people with lung diseases.”

BIOMASS = HEALTH THREAT

Massachusetts Medical Society:

“Biomass power plants pose an unacceptable risk to the public’s health by increasing air pollution…”


Massachusetts Breast Cancer

Coalition:

“Of particular concern to the breast cancer community about this [biomass] plant is the release of toxic chemicals like dioxin and polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbons (PAH’s) into the air in communities already experiencing needlessly high rates of breast cancer.”


Physicians for Social Responsibility:

Burning biomass would “contribute to particulate air pollution emissions by increasing air pollution… and therefore we oppose the construction of such plants.”


Hampden District Medical Society (MA):

“The Hampden District Medical Society has expanded its opposition to construction and operation of [the Spring-field facility] and all other biomass power plants in Western Massachusetts, again citing unacceptable health risk to the population.”


North Carolina Academy of Family Physicians:

“Numerous and serious adverse health consequences …can result from human exposure to the components of emissions of biomass burning.”

DOCTOR’S ORDERS

Biomass “will have a direct negative impact on the health of our Nation’s children: both immediately and cumulatively through-out their lifetimes, and for generations to come.”

-Dr. William Sammons, board certified pediatrician, Massachusetts

DOCTOR’S ORDERS

“The pollution from biomass plants causes asthma and heart attacks, cancer, shortens lives and poses a health risk to…residents.”

-Dr. Ron Saff, asthma specialist, Florida

DOCTOR’S ORDERS

Biomass “combustion will lead to particulate matter air pollution in our valley and that air pollution will lead to disease.”

-Dr. Marc McDermott, pediatrician, Massachusetts

BIOMASS AIR POLLUTION Pollutants Cancer Heart Lung Other

Nitrogen Oxides Premature death

Carbon Monoxide

Formaldehyde

Particulates (PM 10, PM 2.5)

Diabetes

Benzene

ChlorineNapthaleneToluene Harm to

nervous system

Sulfur DioxideAcetaldehyde

MCNEIL BIOMASS POWER INCINERATORVERMONT’S #1 POLLUTER

Carbon Monoxide 1,265,900.05Nitrogen Oxides 460,200.00Primary PM 10 (Includes Filterables + Condensibles) 59,503.40Primary PM 2.5 (Includes Filterables + Condensibles) 58,028.40Hydrochloric Acid 48,400.29Primary PM Condensible Portion Only (All Less Than 1 Micron) 48,067.40Volatile Organic Compounds 35,600.00Ammonia 22,102.00Primary PM, Filterable Portion Only 16,240.00Primary PM 10, Filterable Portion Only 11,436.00Formaldehyde 11,208.49Sulfur Dioxide 10,800.00Benzene 10,699.01Acrolein 10,189.54Primary PM 2.5, Filterable Portion Only 9,961.00Styrene 4,840.03Manganese 4,075.81Toluene 2,343.59Acetaldehyde 2,114.33Chlorine 2,012.43Methylene Chloride 738.74Naphthalene 247.10Propionaldehyde 155.39Phenol 129.92Lead 122.27Carbon Tetrachloride 114.63Tetrachloroethylene 96.80Chlorobenzene 84.06Nickel 84.06Propylene Dichloride 84.06Methyl Chloroform 78.97Ethyl Benzene 78.97Trichloroethylene 76.42Ethylene Dichloride 73.87Chloroform 71.33Phosphorus 68.78o-Xylene 63.68

Methyl Chloride 58.59Arsenic 56.04Chromium 53.50Vinyl Chloride 45.85Methyl Bromide 38.21Antimony 20.12Phenanthrene 17.83Cobalt 16.56Methyl Ethyl Ketone 13.76Acenaphthylene 12.74Cadmium 10.44Pyrene 9.43Chromium (VI) 8.92Fluorene 8.66Anthracene 7.64Selenium 7.13Benzo[a]Pyrene 6.62Hexachlorodibenzo-p-Dioxin 4.08Beryllium 2.80Acenaphthene 2.322,4-Dinitrophenol 0.462-Methylnaphthalene 0.41Fluoranthene 0.414-Nitrophenol 0.28Benzo[b]Fluoranthene 0.25Benzo[g,h,i,] Perylene 0.24Indeno[1,2,3-c,d]Pyrene 0.22Octachlorodibenzo-p-Dioxin 0.17Benz[a]Anthracene 0.17Pentachlorophenol 0.13Bis(2-Ethylhexyl)Phthalate 0.12Chrysene 0.10Benzo[k]Fluoranthene 0.092,4,6-Trichlorophenol 0.06Dibenzo[a,h]Anthracene 0.02Acetophenone 0.01Benzo[e]Pyrene 0.012-Chloronaphthalene 0.01

PARTICULATE MATTER“Particle pollution especially fine particles—contains microscopic solids or liquid droplets that are so small that they can get deep into the lungs and cause serious health problems.”

-Environmental Protection Agency

PARTICULATE MATTER

PAIN IN THE ASH• Fallout in wood ash

“is a major source of radioactivity released into the environment.”

• “Radioactivity will be present in both the stack releases and in the ash.”

• More Cesium-137 (up to 100 times) than from nuclear reactor waste!

PAIN IN THE ASH• “The problem is, however,

that besides nutrients, the ash also contains heavy metals.”

• “Cadmium poses a special risk to the use of wood ash in agriculture. It pollutes a large fraction of the ash generated in a biomass combustion plant…”

HEAVY METALS IN WOOD ASHMETALS CONCENTRATION IN mg/kg

Arsenic 6 (3-10)

Boron 123 (14-290)

Cadmium 3 (0.2-26)

Chromium 57 (7-368)

Copper 70 (37-207)

Lead 65 (16-137)

Mercury 1.9 (0-5)

Molybdenum 19 (0-123)

Nickel 20 (0-63)

Selenium 0.9 (0-11)

Zinc 233 (35-1250)

PAIN IN THE ASH

• Ash with significant levels of toxic metals must be treated as toxic waste.

• Would cost $30 billion/year for proper disposal

ASH DUMPED ON FARMS AS FERTILIZER

PAST NUISANCES (MCNEIL BIOMASS

INCINERATOR)

“PUNGENT” ODORS

• “Neighbors had complained…of pungent vinegar-ammonia-like odors emanating from McNeil Station, telltale signs of fermenting wood chips.”

SPONTANEOUS COMBUSTION

• “In early September [1985] ‘extreme fermentation’ inside the wood chip pile caused a fire.”

CONTAMINATED GROUNDWATER?

• “The EPA has classified phenol as a priority pollutant and furfural and formaldehyde as toxic pollutants.”

“DISTURBING” NOISE & VIBRATIONS

• “Noise and vibrations complaints were prevalent.”

“FUGITIVE” DUST

• “Residents have maintained that McNeil Station emits intolerable concentrations of wood dust.”

FORESTS = LIVING LIFE SUPPORT SYSTEMS

•Air•Water•Soil•Erosion/flood control•Fish & Wildlife•Regional climate (rainfall)•Global climate (carbon storage/ sequestration)

DEFORESTATION & COLLAPSE

“Forests precedecivilizations and deserts follow them.”

-Chateaubriand

CLEARCUTTING THE CLIMATE“Logging the world’s forests is the #2 cause of climate change” -NASA

“Logging accounts for 25-30% of human caused carbon emissions released into the atmosphere” – U.N. Food & Agriculture Organization

“MANOMET” STUDY

• “Forest biomass generally emits more greenhouse gases than fossil fuels per unit of energy produced.”

Biomass Sustainability and Carbon Policy Study, Manomet Center for Conservation Sciences, June 2010

“MANOMET” STUDY• “For biomass replacement of coal-fired power

plants, the net cumulative emissions in 2050 are approximately equal to what they would have been burning coal; and for replacement of natural gas cumulative total emissions are substantially higher with biomass electricity generation.”

Biomass Sustainability and Carbon Policy Study, Manomet Center for Conservation Sciences

REVIEW OF MANOMET STUDY• “The Manomet study has underestimated the net

carbon emissions of biomass power, and policy-makers should be extremely cautious about accepting the study’s optimistic conclusions…”

• “The results in the Manomet study should thus be viewed by policy-makers as an extreme best-case scenario unlikely to be achievable in reality.”-Review of the Manomet Biomass Sustainability and Carbon Policy Study. Prepared by Mary S. Booth, PhD for the Clean Air Task Force.

BIOMASS NOT “CARBON NEUTRAL”

“Exempting emissions from bio-energy use is improper for greenhouse gas regulations. ”

“Harvesting existing forests for electricity adds net carbon to the air.”

-Science, 325:529, SearchingerOctober 23, 2009

WORSE THAN THE WORSTPOLLUTANT RUSSELL BIOMASS

INCINERATOR (PROPOSED)MT. TOM COAL BURNER

Carbon Dioxide (CO2) 3327 2068

Carbon Monoxide (CO)

1.11 0.81

Volatile Organic Compounds (VOC)

0.15 0.02

Particulate Matter (PM)

0.39 0.43

Nitrogen Oxide (NOx) 0.89 1.05

Sulfur Dioxide (SO2) 0.37 0.39

BIOMASS VS. FOSSIL FUELS -CO2 EMISSIONS-

BIOMASS Existing Coal

Existing Petroleum

Existing Natural

Gas

New Natural

Gas

0

500

1000

1500

2000

2500

3000

3500

CARBON DIOXIDE STACK EMISSIONS/MWh

CARBON DIOXIDE STACK EMISSIONS/MWh

90 SCIENTISTS VS. BIOMASS

“The combustion of biomass replaces fossil emissions with its own emissions (which may even be higher per unit of energy because of the lower energy to carbon ratio of biomass).”

IPCC MEMBER QUESTIONS BIOMASS POWER

The claim that biomass power is “‘carbon neutral’ because the new trees use the same carbon dioxide to grow that they released when burned is false as has been recognized by both US scientists and the Intergovernmental Panel on Climate Change on which I serve.”

-William Moomaw, Professor of International Environmental Policy and Director of the Center for International Environment and Resource Policy at Tufts University.

“CLIMATE DISASTER”

• “Carbon dioxide emissions from biomass per unit of energy generated are about 1.5 times higher than from coal and 3 to 4 times greater than from natural gas.”

-“Clearcut Disaster: Carbon Loophole Threatens U.S. Forests,” Environmental Working Group, June 2010

“CLIMATE DISASTER”• “Require the equivalent of clear-cutting between 18

and 30 million acres of forests over the next 15 years…an area larger than the entire state of Pennsylvania…

• “By 2030, the equivalent of up to 50 million acres could be clear-cut…”


“CLIMATE DISASTER”• “Over the next 15 years about 4.7 billion tons of

carbon will be generated from burning biomass.”

• “Erase 80% of the reduction in CO2 emissions from the power sector that is at the heart of federal climate legislation.”


The Biomonster

BIOMESS IN NEW ENGLAND

GreenfieldRussellSpringfieldPittsfieldFitchburg

BIOMESS IN MASSACHUSETTS

Logging for biomass in Wendell State Forest,MA

BIOMESS IN MAINE

Logging for biomass in Moosehead Lake Region, ME

BIOMESS IN VERMONT

Logging site for McNeil biomass incinerator in Worcester, VT (July 30, 2010)

BIOMASS IN NORTHEAST: PROPOSED

BIOMASS IN NORTHEAST: PROPOSED & EXISTING

VERMONT: THE TAKING TREE

1. Lumber2. Paper pulp (800,000 g.t)

3. Firewood (700,000 g.t.)

____________________

1,500,000 g.t. 50 MW incinerator (500,000 g.t.)

DE-FORESTRY IN THE U.S.A.

WHITE MOUNTAIN NATIONAL FOREST (NH)

NATIVE FORESTS1620

NATIVE FORESTS1850

NATIVE FORESTS1920

NATIVE FORESTSTODAY

NO WASTE IN A FORESTUsing Forest Residues Reduces Soil Carbon Stock

“The use of harvest residues for energy production decreases soil carbon stocks.”

-ScienceDaily, 2008

“WASTE” NOT, WANT NOT

“The perceived overabundance of ‘waste wood’ in the nation's forests is simply not there.”

-RISI, the leading information provider for the global forest products industry

WASTE NOT, WANT NOT

Other uses: • firewood • mulch• particle board

FANNING THE FLAMES OF FIRE HYSTERIA

• Wildfire is essential to western forests

• Wildfire is more a product of climate and weather than fuels

• When it’s hot, dry, and windy big fires burn

• Protect homes from burning, not forests

G.E. TREES

WHOLE TREE LOGGING

“When asked if the company would make a commitment not to log for fuel, the Seneca official replied, ‘No, we can’t. We are a business. We don’t know what the future will bring.’”

-Lisa Arkin, Oregon Toxics AllianceRegister-Guard, Eugene

MCNEIL BIOMASS POWER INCINERATORBURLINGTON, VT

Photo: matthewthorsen.com

MCNEIL LOG YARD

WATER

Hoosic River, September 25, 2010

HANDOUTS FOR SMOKESTACKS & CLEARCUTS?

American Reinvestment & Recovery Act – Section 1603

$104, 208, 944 to 10 biomass incinerators, 7 forest-burning (2009-

December 2010)

HANDOUTS FOR SMOKESTACKS & CLEARCUTS?

USDA’s Biomass Crop Assistance Program (BCAP) would provide $461,000,000 worth of incentives over 15 years for biomass burning

ALTERNATIVES

MASSACHUSETTS CLEANING UP ITS BIOMESS?

• Stop Spewing Carbon Campaign

• Ballot measure (targeting subsidies)

• Manomet study• Renewable Energy

Certificates (REC’s)

“ Given the general findings of the Manomet study…I direct you and your staff at DOER to move expeditiously to align our regulations with our better understanding of the greenhouse gas implications of biomass energy.”

-Letter from Ian Bowles, Secretary of the Massachusetts Office of Energy and Environmental Affairs to Commissioner Giudice of the Deparment of Energy Resources, July 7, 2010.

BENNINGTON-BERKSHIRE CITIZENS COALITION

www.benningtonberkshirecc.org

VICTORIES vs. BIOMASS

• FLORIDA (March 2010): Citizen advocacy against 55 MW incinerator proposed for Gretna caused company to withdraw permit application

• FLORIDA (April): Citizen appeal of air pollution permit for 47 MW incinerator in Port St. Joe resulted in withdrawal of application

• MICHIGAN (June): Traverse City city ballot giving citizens right to vote on future construction of incinerators. Company “shelved” plans for incinerator.

MORE VICTORIES vs. BIOMASS

• INDIANA (July): Planning Commission voted against development plan following citizen advocacy.

• FLORIDA (August): Lawsuit against human health impacts of incinerator in Gainesville.

• WASHINGTON (September): Citizen group filed a petition claiming that the Port of Shelton wrongfully signed a lease option with biomass incinerator developer before environmental review.

MORE VICTORIES vs. BIOMASS

• WISCONSIN (November): Plans for largest biomass power incinerator in Midwest withdrawn because of high costs compared to other renewables.

• OHIO (December): 9 proposals to co-fire forest biomass with coal totaling 2,210-MW “on back burner” because of costs compared to other renewables.

• WASHINGTON (January): Thurston County, Washington county commissioners enact first moratorium on biomass power in U.S.

BIOMASS INCINERATION: LOCAL, REGIONAL, NATIONAL & INTERNATIONAL ISSUE

Anti-Biomass Incineration & Forest Protection Campaign

GREEN JOBS• High Efficiency: “The High Efficiency scenario assumes

extensive efficiency improvements in all sectors of the economy--more efficient vehicles, improved appliances, better insulated buildings, more efficient lighting, manufacturing improvements.”

• National Forest Road Removal: “A selective program of road removal…would promote ecological and economic values, provide good jobs for heavy equipment operators and other forest workers, and can be pursued without compromising national forest access.”

EFFICIENCY & CONSERVATION• “Home Star Energy Retrofit Act - By encouraging homeowners to

invest in energy efficiency retrofits, Home Star would create 170,000 manufacturing and construction jobs that could not be outsourced to China.

• “Efficiency Vermont created more than 430 jobs in 2007 and 2008, generating more than $40 million in income. In its first seven years, Efficiency Vermont cut our energy use by 7 percent, reducing costs for homes and businesses by $31 million annually.

ZERO WASTE RENEWABLES(appropriately sited & scaled)

NON-TREE ALTERNATIVES

RESPONSIBLE, LOW-IMPACT FORESTRY FOR NECESSARY WOOD

PRODUCTS

NOTHING CAN REPLACE OIL!

TRANSITION

“The American way of life is not negotiable.”-George Bush

“From oil dependency to community resiliency.”-Transition Town Initiative

THANK YOU

Contact:Biomass Accountability Project at [email protected] go to www.stopspewingcarbon.com to sign up for listserv and monthly national e-

newsletter, Biomass Busters.

http://www.stopspewingcarbon.com/

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