There are many reasons why biomass should not be encouraged and there are no reasons to loosen regulations governing biomass burning.

 

Biomass plants release more carbon dioxide per unit of electrical energy produced than other forms of combustion for generation.

 

Mature forests are better than young ones at cooling the environment.

 

Even proponents of wood burning now admit that it would be many decades before any replacement forest growth sequesters as much carbon as will be released by the burning of biomass, and there is evidence that even this claim is false and that centuries old forests are better for sequestering carbon.  Even if it only takes a few decades, who is to assure that the forests will be allowed all that time to regenerate.

 

Cutting forests will create ideal habitat for ticks, increasing the threat to human health from tick borne diseases.

 

The excuse that using forests for fuel  will prevent forest lands from going for inappropriate development is  pretty weak.  Owners willing to see their forests decimated so that they can be paid for the wood as fuel are not likely to refuse a lucrative offer from a developer.  In fact, clearing forests can make land more attractive to a developer.

 

Please do not do anything to encourage biomass burning.

 

Robert Cherdack

1180 Hawley Road

Ashfield, MA 01330