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Biomass incinerators are rarely, if ever, factually represented by the many sales pitches we see issued by the energy industry sector that promotes them. In fact, the marketing language that has now become de rigueur is reminiscent of George Orwell’s 1984. “War is peace. Freedom is slavery. Ignorance is strength.”
To the point, biomass incineration is [...]

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In Massachusetts and elsewhere, environmentalists are questioning the clean and renewable energy claims made by developers of biomass power.
“Whether you call it biomass or simply chopping down trees, it’s still deforestation,” said Franz A. Matzner, climate legislative director for the Natural Resources Defense Council in Washington, which supports the sensible use of biomass power. “Burning [...]

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Huge and exciting news…. New solar power plant planned for Panhandle! The big question- which utility is quietly considering buying the power? Gainesville Regional to replace the biomass idea? Progress Energy or FP&L to replace the nuclear plan? Let’s hope!
FREEPORT – A fledgling solar power company says it plans to build its first photovoltaic plant [...]

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“…power generated by burning wood, plants and other organic material, which makes up 50 percent of all renewable energy produced in the United States, according to federal statistics, is facing increased scrutiny and opposition.
That, critics say, is because it is not as climate-friendly as once thought, and the pollution it causes in the short run [...]

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“Students at Loga Springs International Academy on Northeast 16th Avenue showed off the fruits of their labors this week during a Sustainability Fair, highlighted by a wind turbine they built, along with solar-powered cookers for hot dogs and cornbread.”

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“Europe seems hell-bent on burning the world’s forests for bioenergy, even as it offers billions of euros to save them, critics say. The dirty secret of Europe’s vaunted green energy revolution is the fact that 68.5 percent of its renewable energy portfolio comes from biofuels and burning wood for energy, according to a report released in Brussels last week.” A story sent to us by Ed Brown – thanks!

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“In a hearing in Tallahassee on Thursday, the Florida Public Service Commission narrowly approved Gainesville’s proposal to build a 100-megawatt, wood-burning power plant, reversing course from February, when the commission appeared poised to deny the project before giving city officials more time to answer concerns.”

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CLIMATE: Biomass industry sees ‘chilling message’ in EPA emissions rule (05/14/2010)
Robin Bravender, E&E reporter
U.S. EPA’s final rule determining which sources will be subject to greenhouse gas permitting requirements does not exempt biomass power, a decision that has raised concern in the biomass industry.
Issued yesterday, EPA’s final “tailoring” rule determines which polluters will be required to [...]

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“The Suwannee/St Johns Sierra Group, which represents 14 counties in North Central Florida including Alachua county, has  voted  to oppose the GRU/GREC Biomass plant

A new power plant is not needed; GRU currently has 62% overcapacity
Competition for increasingly scarce biomass fuel will be too expensive and [...]

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“The Port Talbot and Holyhead biomass plants will require an area of dedicated biomass plantations half the size of Wales. A land area this size could feed up to a third of the population of Britain. With the world facing serious food security issues in coming years this is crazy.”
Ioan Gwyn, 29 said: “The power [...]

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“The Next Decade of Renewable Energy”

Hosted by the Florida Alliance for Renewable Energy & the Florida Farm Bureau

DATE: March 26th through March 28th
TIME: Friday 1:00 – 5:00
Saturday 8:00 – 4:00
Sunday 9:00 -3:00

LOCATION: Gaylord Palms Hotel & Convention Center – Orlando, FL
MORE: Please mark your calendar for this exciting event!

This [...]

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Rob Brinkman: Sierra Club:
Biomass is the least costly form of renewable energy available to Gainesville in sufficient quantity to meet our needs.
We need this plant as a hedge against future regulations of carbon emissions. We need it to reduce particulate emissions from the open burning of biomass. This biomass plant will reduce pollution, save money, [...]

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Not enough wood for GRU’s furnace: Dian Deevey:
“The plant will burn nearly 2 tons of wood a minute, and it takes over an acre of productive Florida timberland to grow that much wood in a year.”
Let’s talk about the GRU elephant: Ed Brown:
“GRU has two jobs: provide utility services and generate “profits” for the city’s [...]

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The Shell Game
Gainesville Is Giving Away Its Energy Future
By Thomas Bussing
It defies belief that the biggest utility contract in our city’s history has been offered to an essentially empty paper entity whose principle activity is financial speculation, quick profit and quick sell-off.
We the people are committing to their 500 million dollar private contract to burn [...]

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A 20-year surge in biomass has just about wiped out UK wood. How sustainable is that???
“A British company that provides strategic analysis of climate change, sustainability and energy issues to British corporations.Verdantix has published a report finding that the explosion of large-scale biomass plants in the UK could wind up struggling to find the biomass [...]

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“Number of years the United States could meet its energy needs by burning all its trees: 1.
- Harpers List, January 2006
Ironically, just as delegates in Copenhagen are ramping up efforts to preserve forests globally to slow global warming, a technology that has the opposite effect is poised to wreak havoc on forests around the world. [...]

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Mayor Pegeen Hanrahan is touting Gainesville’s environmental credentials as part of the Green Jobs for Florida delegation at the United Nations Climate Change Conference in Denmark.
People from around the world are hearing about Gainesville’s solar feed-in tariff, energy efficiency programs and planned biomass power plant.
via Mayor Pegeen Hanrahan says local environmentally friendly programs impress Copenhagen [...]

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“The Public Service Commission will soon determine the need for a 100 megawatt biomass plant proposed to be built at GRU’s Deerhaven site north of Gainesville.
What do you think? Should the PSC determine that Gainesville needs a biomass plant?”
Join the conversation: via Second thoughts about biomass in Gainesville? – Virtual Town Hall – Gainesville [...]

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Not only is biomass not a good source of power, claims a 2007 paper presented at the European Aerosol Conference, it's also not a healthy alternative to coal. The paper claimed that particulate matter (particles, such as dust, dirt, soot or smoke) was actually higher for a 7 megawatt wood gasification plant than it was [...]

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Gainesville resident Karen Orr, co-chair of the Energy Justice Network, has compiled the following articles and letters regarding the proposed biomass plant in Gainesville. Thank you, Karen!
Ronald Saff: Reject Gainesville biomass plant:
As a former U.F. undergrad, I am proud of the high caliber education I received in Gainesville which has enabled me to achieve my [...]

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