I am a resident of Traverse City, Michigan and a lifelong advocate of preserving the beautiful environment of the north woods. I am also one of the founding members of a grassroots citizens group that was successful in defeating the construction of a proposed wood-burning biomass power plant in Traverse City. I am writing because I was alarmed to hear of the wood burning biomass incinerator proposed for Grand Marais. I believe I have a responsibility to sound a warning about the devastating effects that a biomass power plant would have on the woods, water, and air of the Grand Marais area.
The published research of reputable environmental and health scientists as well as the experiences of those communities that have endured the environmental degradation wrought by biomass burning for power is startling.
Here in Traverse City, citizens rejected biomass after awareness about its environmental and health hazards grew. The pollution and environmental degradation caused by biomass burning is multi-dimensional and the actual carbon footprint is worse than that of burning coal. (The assertion that we should “clean up” the forest floor to restore “forest health” is utter nonsense— decaying logs are essential to the health of the forest floor and biodiversity. )
I suggest going to nobiomassburning.org or www.energyjustice.net/biomass for facts and references. Importantly, a very recent decision in Massachesetts changed the “carbon neutral status” of biomass burning, thus making these plants ineligible for renewable energy funding. Go to the Partnership for Policy Integrity website: pfpi.net for details.
Gail Semer
Traverse City, MI
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