Massachusets Chapter of Sierra Club and Mass Audubon Announce Opposition to Biomass

Mass Audubon

Citing “significant concerns about greenhouse gas emissions and impacts to forests associated with large scale biomass use” Mass Audubon  released a public statement today opposing the permitting, construction, and operation of electric generation woody biomass facilities pending proposed regulatory changes.

Download the entire statement to read Mass Audobon’s opposition to unsustainable biomass incineration of our forest resources.

Massachusetts Chapter of The Sierra Club

“The Sierra Club opposes the unsustainable exploitation of forest ecosystems. The Sierra Club has significant concerns over the production of energy from forest or woody biomass, including the inefficiency of utility-scale wood-burning biomass energy production, the resultant operational CO2 emissions, and the associated impacts on forest ecosystems, air and water quality, and public health. Claims of “carbon neutrality” by biomass and industry proponents rely on outdated information and questionable assumptions.”

Download the entire statement to read Massachusets Chapter of The Sierra Club’s opposition to unsustainable biomass incineration of our forest resources.

Further, in a letter to Senator Anthony W. Petrucelli, Chair and Representative William M. Straus, Chair of the Joint Committee on Environment, Natural Resources & Agriculture, regarding Biomass – House Bill 759 and Overall Policy Challenges, dated December 22, 2009, the Sierra Club presented their newly adopted position on Biomass Incineration.

“The Sierra Club believes the environmental community and the legislature missed some key opportunities early on to question the concepts of biomass energy, including the inefficiency of utility-scale wood-burning biomass energy production, the resultant operational CO2 emissions, and the associated impacts on forest ecosystems, air and water quality, and public health. Unfortunately, the Massachusetts Environmental Policy Act (MEPA) has failed to provide the necessary oversight for proposed biomass facilities.”