“As the Chief Operating Officer for the American Lung Association in Florida, I would like to clarify a statement made in Frank Holcomb’s recent editorial on the proposed biomass plant in Gadsden County. In his piece, he mentioned a position by the Clean Air Choice group within the American Lung Association that could be viewed as an endorsement of biomass energy. The information Mr. Holcomb cited was pulled from a website in Illinois and is not the position of the American Lung Association in Florida on the subject.

The American Lung Association has significant concerns regarding the proposed biomass plant and the potential effects it could pose for at-risk groups like those suffering from emphysema, asthma, diabetes and heart disease. Burning wood, or burning any substance, releases toxic chemicals and particles into the air which affect both the environment and respiratory health.

Additionally, diesel equipment critical to plant operation, like the trucks delivering wood, will add significant pollution on the roads and throughout nearby communities. A constant supply of fuel is needed requiring these trucks to make multiple, daily trips to and from the plant. The age of these vehicles and idling practices will also have a significant impact on the level of pollution emitted, and increase the potential damage to air quality and the health of Gadsden County citizens.

Furthermore, we have noticed a pattern nationwide of biomass plants being proposed for rural areas away from cities; where less protective pollution control restrictions and weaker permitting requirements apply. Plant proponents will say that they “meet the air pollution requirements” but the requirements themselves tend to be more lax.

Our organization is dedicated to healthy air and healthy lungs for all Floridians. I encourage the leaders of Gadsden County to consider the potential negative health effects on an already medically vulnerable and underserved community”

Brenda Olsen, RN
Chief Operating Officer
American Lung Association of the Southeast, Inc.
Serving Florida, Georgia and South Carolina
539 Silver Slipper Lane, Ste A
Tallahassee, FL 32303
(850) 241-1002 Direct Line
(850) 443-3017 Cell
www.LungFla.org

“The American Lung Association of Massachusetts has serious concerns about the
proposed Biomass Power Plant in Russell, Massachusetts because of the
significant impact of this project on air quality.  The health of area residents and
those in surrounding communities could be adversely affected by thousands of
pounds of air pollutants emitted into the air daily, including nitrogen oxide or
NOx.”

Download the letter
Read the letter below:

American Lung Association
of Massachusetts

July 14, 2006

Dear Editor:

The American Lung Association of Massachusetts has serious concerns about the
proposed Biomass Power Plant in Russell, Massachusetts because of the
significant impact of this project on air quality.  The health of area residents and
those in surrounding communities could be adversely affected by thousands of
pounds of air pollutants emitted into the air daily, including nitrogen oxide or
NOx.  NOx is a key component of ground level ozone, or smog, and is a lung
irritant.  In the report that Russell Biomass filed with the Massachusetts
Environmental Policy Act Office, Russell Biomass LLC projected that the power
plant’s NOx levels would exceed the Federal EPA Limit for New Source Review
in an Ozone Non-Attainment Area.  Under current regulations, the plant would be
allowed to purchase additional credits to produce the extra NOx.  The reported
emissions also do not include the particulate matter produced by over 800 one-way
diesel truck trips serving the plant each week.

In the American Lung Association’s 2005 State of the Air report, Hampden and
Hampshire counties both received a grade of “F” for both ozone and particle
pollution.  The health effects of ozone and particle pollution include wheezing,
shortness of breath, increased risk of asthma attacks, pulmonary inflammation, and
premature mortality.1  We have serious concerns that this proposed plant could
worsen the air quality in the already polluted Pioneer Valley.

The mission of the American Lung Association of Massachusetts is to prevent
lung disease and promote lung health.  The proposed Russell Biomass power plant
is a potential health threat to thousands of Massachusetts’ residents and requires
the full attention of all Massachusetts’ citizens.  Information about air pollution
and its health effects can be found at www.lungma.org, and information about the
power plant can be obtained from the Massachusetts Environmental Protection Act
Office (MEPA) at http://www.mass.gov/envir/mepa/.

Sincerely,

Jeffrey E. Seyler
Chief Executive Officer