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Index of Subjects I am not sure about relative rates of forest removal and regeneration but if we're removing biomass, for whatever purpose, faster than it is being regenerated, our processes are neither sustainable nor renewable! Must be some data around about how we're doing in Nova Scotia, on that score. -----Original Message----- From: naturens-owner@chebucto.ns.ca [mailto:naturens-owner@chebucto.ns.ca] On Behalf Of Bev Wigney Sent: May 11, 2019 2:37 PM To: naturens@chebucto.ns.ca Subject: Re: [NatureNS] Does anyone know why a broad swath has been cleared on both sides of highway 101? David & All, I think we have to look at biomass fuel on a case by case basis. I'm told by those who know better than me, that biomass is probably most efficient used in systems producing both heat and electricity as in the advanced biomass gasification plants operated in combined heat and power mode (CHPs). Those are probably making the most efficient use of biomass when the fuel is sourced reasonably local to the plant. Also, it depends on the type of fuel. Clearcutting is considered by many to be a poor source of fuel as it takes forests out of effective sequestration mode for an extended period of time. I've provided a link to a good piece on this on Nova Scotia Forest Notes (see link below). Some of the other important factors to consider. Much of the wood being burnt in the biomass power plants is still green and its energy efficiency is very poor. When you factor in the fossil fuel used to harvest it, the fuel and general wear and tear on vehicles used to transport it (often from quite great distances across the province), and the loss of environmental services of each tree until its replacement grows to a moderate size, it seems that the logic becomes rather hazy, at least to me. Then when we consider the growing market for our forests to be chipped and shipped across the ocean on freighters to Europe, I truly have to question what good that is doing from a carbon standpoint -- just think of all the fuel wasted to deliver wood chips to a plant in the UK or Germany. Actually, the idea that this could be a "good idea" seems almost insane to me. Here's that link - and it leads to some other interesting references: http://nsforestnotes.ca/2017/01/03/natural-resources-canada-ghg-calculator-confirms-nova-scotia-forest-bioenergy-schemes-are-worse-than-coal-2/ bev > Hi Bev & All, > > But keep in mind that from a carbon viewpoint it is far better to > burn wood for power than coal, oil or natural gas. > > If climate change takes over then the future for everything is grim. > > Yt, DW Kentville >
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