Biomass Plants Are Clunkers
We are taking gas guzzlers off the road, but poised to subsidize biomass electricity generating plants. The efficiency of biomass incinerators is 15 to 25 percent, meaning 15 to 25 percent of the energy in wood is captured and converted to electricity. The efficiency of electricity from coal is 45 percent, and from natural gas, 60 percent.
Inefficiency translates to more emissions of carbon dioxide per unit of energy generated than any other technology, 1.5 to 3.5 times that of coal, 2.5 times that of natural gas, and 2.5 times the national average. That does not count the impact of destroying trees that take up carbon dioxide. At a time when we need to reduce carbon dioxide emissions and atmospheric concentrations immediately, it is insane to allow these clunkers to be built. What kind of example does it set for the United States, the energy glutton of the planet with 4 percent of the global population that emits 25 percent of the global carbon dioxide, to burn up trees and spew out excessive carbon dioxide for a miniscule amount of energy? Conservation could easily make up for this energy.
The Commonwealth of Massachusetts is planning to reward these clunkers with generous public subsidies. Russell Biomass, for example, by their own estimates is in line to receive over $400 million in public handouts. Think of what could be done with that money.
Biomass incinerators are a horrible deal for the public, environmentally and economically, due largely to their pathetically low efficiency. Biomass incinerators do not deserve to be in the same class as green energy technologies such as conservation, efficiency, and solar.
Ellen Moyer
Montgomery
Massacre on the Menu
Recently published undercover investigations showed male baby chicks (unfit for egg production) suffocated in plastic garbage bags or ground to death in large macerators, pigs clobbered by metal pipes and killed by hanging, and animals skinned and dismembered at the slaughterhouse while still conscious. Last week, I read of an international observance on October 2 (Gandhi's birthday) to expose the abuse and slaughter of 55 billion animals raised for food throughout the world (www.WorldFarmAnimalsDay.org). I believe that a gradual transition to a vegan diet is the only effective long-term solution for maintaining a guilt-free conscience, as well as radiant health and the quality of our environment.
Eddie Buster
Easthampton
Correction: Last week we incorrectly included Easthampton Violin in our listings for the Big Music issue. The store is no longer open.
