In pursuit of green fuel should we be killing black bears?

[chem1st]

Instead of burning coal, we will soon, be burning wood pellets to generate leccy.

 

Swamp forests in the US are being felled to help keep the lights on in the UK. Is this really the best way to combat climate change?

 

Environmentalists are trying to block the expansion of a transatlantic trade bringing American wood to burn in European power stations.

 

The trade is driven by EU rules promoting renewable energy to combat climate change.

 

Many millions of tonnes of wood pellets will soon be shipped annually to help keep the lights on in the UK. Other EU nations may follow.

 

Critics say subsidising wood burning wastes money, does nothing to tackle climate change in the short term, and is wrecking some of the finest forests in the US.

 

I have tracked the controversial trade from the swamp forests of North Carolina to the towering chimneys of the UK's biggest power station, Drax in Yorkshire, which is converting half its boilers from coal to wood.

 

The implications are complicated and disputed, but it is clear that EU leaders did not have burning American wood in mind when they mandated that 20% of Europe's energy should come from "renewable" sources.

 

http://www.bbc.co.uk/news/science-environment-22630815

 

How clean is wood-burning?

 

Drax will burn seven million tonnes of plant material a year.

 

It will have to import 90% of its biomass, mostly from the US.

 

From 2013, the UK Government mandates that biomass burning for power will need to emit no more than 70g CO2/kJ, including emissions from transport and cutting.

 

Drax says it averages 20-75g CO2/kJ. That compares 280g for the average UK coal power station; 122g for North Sea gas; and 193g for Russian piped gas.

 

The government expects subsidy for biomass to be £442m-£736m in 2016/17.

 

This will result in the killing of Black bears in America.

 

Burning trees for electricity creates more carbon pollution than coal — and destroys our irreplaceable native forests in the process. But the European Union’s misguided “renewable energy” policies ignore mounting scientific evidence that shows burning trees to produce electricity is disastrous for our environment. As a result, the EU is buying more wood for fuel, cutting down southern forests and harming our health, environment, climate and quality of life.

 

Our southern forests shouldn’t be used to keep the lights on in Europe. Tell European leaders to stop burning our forests for fuel!

 

 

You can use this link to complain to European leaders...

https://secure.nrdconline.org/site/Advocacy?cmd=display&page=UserAction&id=3613&s_src=sbFNFSOS&utm_source=fb&utm_medium=blog&utm_campaign=FNFSOS

 

What do you think to this supposed green fuel? Is it green?

 

Should we use wood pellets or coal?

[No User Name]

Dunno but it shouldnt be in "Sheffield Discussions" for starters...

[JayG]

Whichever board it should be posted on I think the title should be amended to read 'bears' or 'black bears' rather than 'American blacks!'

[chem1st]

Sheffield leccy

[lines]

Instead of burning coal, we will soon, be burning wood pellets to generate leccy.

 

 

 

http://www.bbc.co.uk/news/science-environment-22630815

 

 

 

This will result in the killing of Black bears in America.

 

 

 

 

You can use this link to complain to European leaders...

https://secure.nrdconline.org/site/Advocacy?cmd=display&page=UserAction&id=3613&s_src=sbFNFSOS&utm_source=fb&utm_medium=blog&utm_campaign=FNFSOS

 

What do you think to this supposed green fuel? Is it green?

 

Should we use wood pellets or coal?

 

I watched a documentary on this a few weeks back. There were claims of some businesses felling and using these trees, however there was no evidence, even though there was a pile of wood chips right next to them! Either that wood was ancient hardwood or young wood from sustainable sources, but no one checked, they just accused.

 

On the other hand, other hard wood which had come from older sources (but legal), was not sold quickly enough, so they chipped it and sold it that way...!?

 

 

 

* Yes the title should be changed, I almost avoided the thread because of the title.

[buck]

Dunno but it shouldnt be in "Sheffield Discussions" for starters...

This is 'General Discussions' which allows folks like me to have a say. I am also a retired paper industry worker, and I can assure you the American forest is in excellent shape.