Environmentalists challenge biomass plan

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.

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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