Traverse City Record-Eagle

Forums

April 29, 2010

Forum: Biomass plant idea is misguided

BY ELISA BARRETT ----

I am sincerely concerned in regard to the plans by Traverse City Light & Power to build a biomass plant. I am concerned biomass plants are actually being viewed as viable alternatives to fossil fuels at all. Such a plant is counterproductive to reducing the carbon dioxide load of Earth.

Just because energy can be derived from burning trees doesn't mean it is green energy. The reality is that sincere green energy is "carbon free" and not "carbon neutral." Besides the biomass plant isn't in reality carbon neutral.

I hope to conduct public meetings in Traverse City sometime in the near future to demonstrate that to everyone.

There is also the issue of the hydroelectric dams on the Boardman River. They need to be revisited before they are ruled out as a viable solution for some of the energy needs of the region. It isn't good enough that Light & Power does not want to use them as a power source; it has to be proven in the year 2010 that those dams are out of the question.

That is only accomplished when scientists can accurately diagnose the problems along with potential solutions in regard to the remaining three dams.

Additionally, the basis of the argument Light & Power gives for choosing a biomass plant over any other power source is refutable. It was stated at the April 7th final meeting between citizens and the city-owned utility that the Intergovernmental Panel on Climate Change and Dr. Chris Fields advocate biomass as an alternative fuel.

That is contradictory to any facts. In a public release of information in February 2009, Dr. Chris Fields, co-chair of the IPCC Working Group, stated the impact of carbon dioxide on Earth has been understated and the levels have skyrocketed between the years 2000-2007.

He went on to say that wildfires of all forests, including tropical rainforests, can be anticipated as the planet warms. Therefore, the idea that forests are a sustainable commodity for use as energy is unrealistic. And Light & Power is misusing the facts of the IPCC to represent a false claim to validate the use of biomass.

In the final meeting with the public it was noted there are brand-new wind maps of the Great Lakes and that Canada has more promising wind maps of those same lakes.

It is a far better conclusion to realize all the evidence is not in yet as to the best path for Traverse City to take and further investigation is necessary. Traverse City commissioners would be misguided in voting for any bond issue to build such a biomass plant.

About the author: Elisa Barrett has a Bachelor of Science degree from the University of North Carolina at Wilmington and works as a conservation biologist with Earth Rescue, Inc. of High Point, N.C.

About the forum: The forum is a periodic column of opinion written by Record-Eagle readers in their areas of interest or expertise. Submissions of 500 words or less may be made by e-mailing letters@record-eagle.com. Please include biographical information and a photo.

Text Only