Environmentalists challenge biomass plan


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Biomass Power Moratorium calls to pause burning waste wood for electricity, citing clear-cutting risks, forest conservation, carbon impacts, and sustainability policy, as the province pursues renewable energy targets and coal reduction under new regulations.

 

The Big Picture

A five-year pause on burning waste wood for power to curb clear-cutting, protect forests, and reassess renewable policy.

  • Pause biomass electricity from waste wood and junk logs
  • Addresses clear-cutting and forest degradation concerns
  • Aligns with renewable targets while limiting carbon impacts

 

Nova Scotia's renewable electricity plan is under fire from a prominent environmental group.

 

The Ecology Action Centre is calling for a five-year moratorium on the burning of waste wood - known as biomass - to produce electricity.

Biomass, which includes wood shavings and junk logs, is a key part of the province's plan to encourage biomass growth as it reduces its dependence on coal.

There are concerns, however, that the plan will lead to more clear-cutting.

"The forest cannot be sacrificed on the altar of quick, cheap electricity," said Ray Plourde, wilderness co-ordinator at the 37-year-old ecological organization.

The government is promising new regulations to prevent that.

"If we don't change policy, then there's probably going to be more clear-cutting," said Natural Resources Minister John MacDonell.

In April, the government announced a target for 40 per cent of all electricity to come from renewable sources by 2020.

But Plourde said burning biomass comes at too high a cost for ratepayers.

At the end of the day, these targets and the word 'renewable' are almost becoming corrupted, and a UK coal plant faced a stalled biomass facility recently. We don't feel burning the forest for electricity is green at all," he said.

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