Traverse City is one of the most progressive communities when it comes to pursuing non-fossil-fuel energy sources, and residents deserve a lot of credit for that. However, the city got waylaid with the idea that biomass electric generation was a no-lose situation.
Despite a lot of requests that Traverse City Light & Power carefully consider the full impact of these proposed plants on the forests and pollution, Light & Power declined to do a complete environmental review.
The news that the biomass plants are on hold and that Light & Power will look at natural gas opens the window for all alternatives to get consideration.
What was most troubling in the article announcing the hold on biomass is Light & Power's suggestion that the problem was its inability to sell the plan to the public. That misses the boat entirely. An intelligent and informed public raised many questions that officials in Traverse City dodged or declined to answer.
Public officials thought the right thing to do was to hire people to convince the public to go along with a project instead of opening up discussion and answering the many valid questions raised. This is an object lesson about what our representative democracy is about — the decision-makers are tasked with making hard decisions, but their first job is to make sure they have asked and answered all the right questions, not to make a decision and then try to figure how to sell it.
One unanswered question was where the wood would come from to run the plant. There was not enough waste wood; and much of the standing timber being counted on to provide wood for these plants is not actually available, and other biomass and biofuel plant proposals in the northern Lower Peninsula and the eastern Upper Peninsula overlap the draw area for these plants.
This remains a huge issue that the state must address in a comprehensive way before permitting or providing funding for more projects, instead of simply repeating the misleading statement that Michigan is growing more wood than we cut.
If you live in the area of a proposed biomass or biofuels plant and have a woodlot, wouldn't you like to know whether the company is intent on using your timber as part of their pool? If you are the customer of a publicly owned utility, wouldn't you like to know if they knew where the fuel was going to come from before investing millions in a plant?
The last line of the article talks about there being no silver bullet for the energy issues we face. Bingo! That means it is time to make sure big decisions, whether coal, biomass, wind, solar or anything else other than reducing energy use, are addressed in a comprehensive way.
We must look at site-specific opportunities and barriers, require good environmental review and weigh trade-offs. Light & Power has the opportunity now to continue being a real leader in Michigan's energy future.
About the author: Anne Woiwode is the state director for the Sierra Club Michigan Chapter.
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.
Opinion
Forum: Unanswered questions cost TCL&P
-
-
Editorial: Sewer investment could pair with road repairs
The issue: TC is considering a road bond. Our view: Marrying road and sewer work may be best investment.
Continued ... -
Letters to the Editor: 05/22/2013
Rules violate the law; Send some to jail.
Continued ... -
Another View: Abusing authority inexcusable
When people talk about government posing a threat to citizens, a common topic these days is unmanned drones.
Continued ... -
Editorial: Earnings-based tuition an artificial construction
The issue: Some NMC programs to see stiff tuition hikes. Our view: Don’t base tuition on artificial ‘earnings’ projections.
Continued ... -
Letters to the Editor: 05/21/2013
Who awarded contract?; Who could want more?
Continued ... -
Forum: State gets ‘F’ for hidden campaign money
Just how much money was spent independently of candidates on elections for Michigan state office last year?
Continued ... - Monday, May 20, 2013
-
Cheers: 05/20/2013
To the late Bill Russell, a businessman who broke barriers all his life, including opening the region's first Indian-owned manufacturing plant in 1975.
Continued ... -
Letters to the Editor: 05/20/2013
In decline ever since; What I didn’t know.
Continued ... - Sunday, May 19, 2013
-
Editorial: Airport should give vets prominent recognition
The issue: Cherry Capital relegates veterans sign to luggage area. Our view: Either do it right or not at all.
Continued ... -
Letters to the Editor: 05/19/2013
Franz unresponsive; No Russian roulette.
Continued ... -
Forum: Clean energy, energy forums crucial
Developing a long-term energy plan and investing in clean energy is crucial to Michigan’s future. Gov. Rick Snyder’s recent energy forums are important first steps in developing such a plan.
Continued ... -
Jack Lessenberry: Pleasing voters not a priority
Once upon a time, legislators felt they had to try to give voters the laws they wanted. True, once in a great while. some took stands on principle that risked angering their constituents.
Continued ... -
George Weeks: Camp, Levin address IRS scandal
As Washington deals with cascading scandals, Michigan lawmakers are among leaders seeking bipartisan solutions.
Continued ... - Saturday, May 18, 2013
-
Letters to the Editor: 05/18/2013
A positive revision; What a legislature.
Continued ... -
Another View: Work to bring region together
It seems state Rep. Kurt Heise, R-Plymouth, doesn’t understand the meaning of “regional cooperation.”
Continued ... -
Another View: Animal neglect of any kind unacceptable
According to the Humane Society of the United States, Americans own about 78.2 million dogs and 86.4 million cats.
Continued ... -
Fact Check: Is Pentagon court-martialing on basis of faith?
Q: Has the Pentagon recently declared that sharing one’s faith is punishable by court-martial?
Continued ... - Friday, May 17, 2013
-
Editorial: Obama must set tone for IRS, Justice Dept.
The issue: IRS, Justice Department have much to answer for. Our view: Leadership begins and ends with President Obama.
Continued ... -
Letters to the Editor: 05/17/2013
Second to none; Teach more about less.
Continued ... -
Another View: Records seizure an insult to press
Distrust of government secrecy has been elevated to an exceptional level with the disclosure the Justice Department covertly examined two months of Associated Press phone records to determine who leaked details to the AP about a foiled terrorist plot.
Continued ... - Thursday, May 16, 2013
-
Another View: State roads see — and need — more attention
There’s no way to avoid it. In Michigan, spring and summer, always bring detours and orange cones, the calling cards of road construction.
Continued ... -
Letters to the Editor: 05/16/2013
Just state disdain; Contributes to problem.
Continued ... -
Another View: Taxes should be collected for online sales
If Michigan lawmakers are successful in passing measures to collect sales tax from online purchases, it could be the beginning of some major relief for small businesses around Superiorland — and for the cash-strapped state government.
Continued ... -
Phil Power: Get to 'core' of the problem
Michigan was one of 45 states which adopted “Common Core Standards” back in 2010. The standards are aimed at setting out the kinds of skills that will qualify kids to successfully meet 21st century challenges, both in post-secondary education and fulfilling careers.
Continued ... - Wednesday, May 15, 2013
-
Editorial: TBAISD hoards money as schools struggle
The issue: TBAISD’s millions. Our view: Big changes needed.
Continued ...
-
Editorial: Sewer investment could pair with road repairs



