Biomass report raises concerns

Biomass report raises concerns

Letter to the Editor

"Fuelling a Biomess," a Greenpeace Canada report released Nov. 2, raises important concerns about the use of forest biomass for energy on a large scale, and explains how it is not the carbon-neutral, clean and green fuel that governments and industry have claimed.

The report warns of adverse impacts for the climate, our forests, and the health of people, if the current trend toward biomass projects, such as escalating pellet production (and associated deforestation) continues.

I think that pollution and health hazards of industrial biomass burning outlined in the report apply to residential and commercial wood burning as well. In Lethbridge and other cities that, according to the World Health Organization, have clean air overall, some residents can still be forced to breathe air that is unhealthy, if they live or work near a source of localized pollution like a wood fire pit, wood stove or fireplace, or wood-fired oven. Neither can the Air Quality Health Index (AQHI) protect people in wood burning neighbourhoods from wood smoke, one of the most harmful forms of air pollution.

Will Greenpeace Canada's new report help encourage provincial and federal governments to avoid rushing to support the bioenergy boom? Instead of the burning of trees, governments may instead invest more in truly clean, renewable forms of energy.

By extension, could the report's challenges to pervasive wood-burning myths perhaps help more municipal leaders and citizens across Canada to also recognize residential wood burning as a serious health and air quality issue? In our own and other communities, might new and better policies (including, hopefully, proactive bans preventing wood smoke in neighbourhoods) be on the horizon?

Cathy Baiton
Lethbridge

Source: Lethbridge Herald (Canada) November 13, 2011

Also: The Wood Smoke Activist Network, December 2011 Newsletter
Web site: http://WoodBurnerSmoke.net

Webmaster---Banning wood burning and all associated wood products (like pellets) must be done ASAP. Biomass is a "biomess" for the environment and the health of the people who have to breathe its poisonous emissions.


One last comment---the writer above states, "....(including, HOPEFULLY, proactive bans preventing wood smoke in neighbourhoods) be on the horizon?

Let's not "hope" for woodsmoke bans. We have to do something about it now. WE HAVE TO TAKE ACTION NOW. Attend your city/town board meetings and tell them you want to end/prohibit/ban all wood burning-indoor and outdoor. Meet with your local Fire Chief who should support your efforts 100%. Write letters to your locally elected officials and leaders and tell them you want a ban. Inform your regional and national leaders you want them to pass by-laws to end the deadly pollution of wood burning. Find and join with other people who care about their children's health and their own health, and go to meetings and write a group letter. Find out why your local health boards are not educated on the deadly effects of woodsmoke, and then ask them to present a request to the town leaders to end/prohibit/ban all wood burning--including wood pellets, and pellet plants. Don't just HOPE! Take action now...or continue to suffer the horrible effects of woodsmoke. Choose Life or choose Death. Which do you choose for your family...and yourself?