Is Biomass Energy Renewable?
The science is still developing on many important questions: can the forest regenerate fast enough to take up carbon dioxide emitted when wood is burned? Or, just left in the woods to decay, might downed trees emit more such greenhouse gases than if they’re burned? The lack of certainty can add a note of contention – and confusion – to the debate. Some mainstream environmental organizations are wading in only cautiously. More on whether biomass qualifies as being renewable is available from: Massachusetts’ state policy on biomass, the Massachusetts Environmental Energy Alliance (a group that opposes the biomass plants in Russell and elsewhere in western Massachusetts), the Union of Concerned Scientists, and a Pew Center on Global Climate Change report on Renewable Energy Portfolio Standards in various states. • August 2009 – Back to School As the last few days of summer give way to the start of the academic year, in this Focus Western New England, we go back to school… School Regiona
