Biomass power plants, like the wood-burning plant proposed for Henniker by Laidlaw Energy Group, are not as environmentally beneficial as some have claimed.
As stated by this paper's July 20 editorial ("Laidlaw chose good site for biomass plant"), biomass plants can be - if properly regulated and controlled - cleaner than coal- or oil-fired plants with respect to traditional health-damaging pollutants. But this is a very low standard, and there are much cleaner options.
Wind and solar plants are two much better options. They not only emit no traditional pollutants, but they also emit no carbon dioxide or other global warming gases. On the other hand, biomass plants burn carbon material, and thus emit substantial amounts of carbon dioxide.
As a professional working to reduce air pollution over the last decade, I strongly believe that if we are to ever get serious about addressing our twin problems of energy supply and global climate change, we must stop building any new power plants that burn carbon-based materials. Yes, wood-burning plants burn a "renewable" resource. But not all renewable resources are created equal. New Hampshire needs to concentrate on wind, solar and other noncarbon sources of energy - not biomass.
DAVID MARSHALL
Henniker
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Comments
Bio-Mass
By Anonymous - 08/24/2008 - 10:06 amWhile attention is focused on the Laidlaw Henniker site, Laidlaw has recently purchased the former Fraser Paper site in Berlin. Does Laidlaw have a construcion permit for either site?
While this recent aquisition will promote economic opportunity in the northern part of the state, I hope the public's health is being protected and that Laidlaw is not by-passing the permitting process which allows the residents of Berlin an opportunity to comment at a public hearing.
While Henniker residents will have three opportunities to comment at public hearings, Berlin residents have been denied this right. Are the lungs of Berlin residents less important, or is breathing hazardous air pollutants the price you pay for a job opportunity and economic growth in the north country?
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We need it now not someone's future dream
By Anonymous - 08/22/2008 - 12:22 pmAnd Mr. Marshall when your car dies you won't replace it right? And you are going to turn the heat off in your home this winter right? And you grow all your own food right?
Well not everyone wants to make those choices. Bring on the wood burning plant and everything else. I don't want my Grandmother freezing to death this winter or next. I want the schools to be heated too. Oil is breaking our banks and a little dirty air is a small price to pay for our lifestyles.
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NIMBY
By Anonymous - 08/22/2008 - 11:09 amThe author is correct - we should be concentrating more on wind. However biomass is still NH's best source of renewable energy. It is safe, carbon neutral and home grown.
Mr. Marshall should consider how his neighbors in the winder parts of NH will react when someone proposes wind farms with turbines that are over 250ft tall. Perhaps they will look back to Henniker and say "why should our community suffer the eyesore of tall wind turbines for your benefit when you community wouldn't host a biomass plant for our benefit?"
We need all of our renewable resources to get through this crisis - not just the ones located in someone else's town.
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