Responding to Granite Geek
David Brooks is my favorite reporter at my favorite newspaper, so I respond to his latest Granite Geek in the spirit of two old alums talking over a beer rather than a place of criticism.
While wood, like every source of energy, does emit pollution, it is widely accepted that wood is a carbon-neutral fuel. This is especially relevant in the northeast where pests and pathogens are now estimated to kill more trees (which then rot and release carbon) than logging. Particulate matter can be mitigated with operational solutions; carbon dynamics are now more important than ever to take into consideration.
Also, we cannot say unequivocally that it would be better if “all wood stoves were replaced with electric heat pumps.” Wintertime peak demand for electricity is a growing issue, and wood can relieve some of that grid demand. Moreover, most electricity in the winter comes from burning fossil fuels. I love my ground source heat pump, but I love it more in the shoulder seasons. Viewing wood as some anachronistic resource is not productive. It is a renewable, local resource with modern applications that are often our best option.