Groups oppose tax credits for biomass burning

The groups delivered letters to Senate Finance Committee Chairs Max Baucus (D-MT) and Charles Grassley (R-IA) in response to increased lobbying by the Biomass Power Association, timber, waste and energy companies seeking to create or extend lucrative tax credits for burning biomass (trash, tires, and anything else) to produce electric power.

The groups say the biomass plants pose an undue risk to public health and the environment.

The letter says promoting these incinerators with public subsidies “on the false claim that it is “green” electricity is indefensible public policy.” The letter contains a chart comparing biomass emissions to coal, concluding that, “Current research, data from company permits and proposals, environmental impact reports, and government analyses show that for several key pollutants (notably CO2, NOx and particulates) biomass burning is “dirty energy” – worse than coal – and not “clean energy” as the industry claims.”

The letter notes that the 20,000-member Massachusetts Medical Society recently resolved to adopt a policy opposing biomass power plants on the grounds that they pose ‘an unacceptable health risk,’ and that similar resolutions have been passed by the American Lung Association of New England and the Florida Medical Society, in response to a spate of biomass power plant proposals in recent years.

“President Obama has announced a freeze on domestic spending for next year’s budget. There are two hundred biomass plants lining up for grants in lieu of tax credits under the stimulus package, at a cost to taxpayers of at least a half a billion dollars. Ending subsidies for incinerators falsely claiming to be clean energy is a good place to start cleaning up the federal budget deficit,” said Attorney Margaret Sheehan, spokesperson for the group.