Using Biomass for Economic Development and Forest Health by Genevieve Fraser

Genevieve Fraser

Using Biomass for Economic Development and Forest Health

By Genevieve Fraser

Imperative Energy, a company that provides biomass heat and power to the UK and Ireland and a recent recipient of the Global CleanTech award, has plans to expand its US presence by bringing a combined biomass – industrial development project to Massachusetts.  The Bio-Park would be based in the greater Taunton area in the Myles Standish Industrial Park, a 220 acre expansion which includes a proposed life sciences development area.  Taunton has been designated as a Massachusetts Platinum Level Bio Ready Community with the ability to accept biotech projects based on available property, building space, board of health regulations and zoning. 

According to trade journal reports, the proposed Bio-Park would include a best-in-class Swiss technology biomass-fueled combined heat and power (CHP) plant, a wood pellet manufacturing unit and biopharma facility.  Imperative Energy has also partnered with a West Coast company to provide bioenergy options for industrial and commercial customers on the West Coast. 

As a candidate for state representative, I propose to follow the lead of the Taunton Office of Economic and Community Development in utilizing biomass and other renewable resources to power economic development.  The region should investigate economic development opportunities that could utilize the wood waste from the 200,000 plus acres of public and private forests in the 2^nd Franklin District and beyond.  Rather than utilize this sustainable resource to supply power to the grid, use it as a resource to power dedicated uses with district heating for municipalities, business and industry.  By offering inexpensive heat and power options, you provide a reason for business and industry to locate here that would complement the other assets the region provides such as a rail system, interstate highways, plus an educated workforce and nearby state colleges that could offer industry-specific training.

Tangle of invasive species Rte 2 Erving

Along with the obvious economic incentive, there’s another reason to turn to biomass, namely, the health of the forest.  Infestations of invasive species as well as diseases such as the Asian Longhorned Beetle and Hemlock Wooly Adelgid are rapidly advancing on the state’s forest which is now over 90% mature with a “closed forest canopy.”  Invasive species and diseased trees should be removed and incinerated which, in turn, will allow new, healthier regenerative growth.  A case in point can be easily spotted if you take a drive around the Windsor Dam at the Qubbin Reservoir Watershed where stands of what should be evergreens have instead turned rust red, dead from an infestation of Red Pine Scale, a mite like insect that can suck the life out of formerly majestic forest species.

Red Pine Scale at the Quabbin Reservoir Watershed

The fact is Massachusetts is awash in wood-waste that used to be disposed of in landfills where it decomposed and generated deadly methane gas.  Today, with landfill space at a premium, wood waste is now banned. Meanwhile, with ice and snow storms, the 2011 tornado and other wind events, sawmill residue, land clearings for construction, discarded pallets, roadside and power line trimmings and a host of other sources, the wood keeps piling up.  According to David Celino, the state fire warden, the state’s 3 million acres of forests are currently the equivalent of a tinderbox because of the lack of significant snowfall, the hundreds of thousands of dead trees and limbs from the natural disasters that have dried out on forest floors, and the historic high temperatures.

Unfortunately, there’s a lot of misinformation and outright bogus claims about the use of and harvesting of biomass for electrical and thermal (heat) generation.  “Stop incinerating our forests” is the battle cry.  The boogieman raised is that allowing biomass plants will result in deforestation – with landowners in cahoots with logging operators to strip the forests for burning.  The truth does not match up to the propaganda scare tactics. 

According to a MA-DOER study in 2002, there is over 2.5 million tons per year of available wood waste in Massachusetts.  But as recent events in western Massachusetts have made clear, the extent of tornado-damaged debris alone is staggering.  Surrounding states can also supply millions more.  Combined heat and power biomass plants dedicated to serving the needs of business, municipalities and industry are an outlet for this wood waste, a practical solution which provides jobs and generates income for local economies while replacing fossil fuels.

Isn’t it time we stopped listening to the fear-mongers.  The state of Massachusetts needs the availability of Biomass CHP facilities to deal with excess wood waste, reduce our dependency on fossil fuels, revive our local, rural economies, and manage the forest so that it is less prone to disease and fire and is better able to provide a wide-diversity of forest habitat for wildlife.

Biomass is not THE answer. It is part of the answer: Genevieve Fraser

Invasive species attacking trees in Petersham, MA

Biomass is not THE answer. It is part of the answer, along with other renewables. But for the overall health and well being of the forest, biomass is an excellent tool for culling diseased trees and invasives and low-quality wood and enhancing wildlife habitat for a variety of species. I support biomass for dedicated uses...for schools, industry and municipalities. Roadside clearings can be put to good use reducing the cost of heat, and electricity. Greenhouses can be attached to utilize the CO2 emissions needed for plant growth. We can expand out industrial and agricultural base while reducing electrical and heating costs for business/industries and towns.
Genevieve

Should Representative Andrews cosponsor Drug Legislation while working for Big Pharma?

Should Representative Andrews cosponsor Drug Legislation while working for Big Pharma?

By Genevieve Fraser

Representative Andrews (D-Orange) - who is on the Joint Committees on Election Law, Labor and Workforce Development and Revenue - crossed over to the area of Public Health to cosponsor H. 594 which directs the Department of Public Health to promulgate regulations governing the administration of medication to children in school. 

In an article by Richie Davis of the Greenfield Recorder, it was recently revealed that Representative Andrews works up to 50 hours per week for the pharmaceutical giant Novartis while also serving as state representative for the 2^nd Franklin District.

Along with dealing with epinephrine, H. 594 also states: no school district shall prohibit students with asthma or other respiratory diseases from possessing and administering prescription inhalers. XoLair is a Novartis asthma drug with warnings that it should only be administered in a doctor's office because of possible severe allergic reactions.  In addition, E-MERG PEN is an epinephrine medication trademarked by Novartis.

Perhaps H. 594 is a good bill or perhaps not, the real issue here is should Representative Andrews cosponsor legislation involving administration of drugs to school children while working up to 50 hours per week for one the leading pharmaceutical companies in the world? Clearly, Novartis stands to gain financially if the legislation should pass. Doesn't this present a conflict of interest for Representative Andrews?

For the record, the bill has been acted on since she accepted the position with Novartis in September 2011, though by her own admission she was approached by the company last summer. Here's the record of actions taken on the legislation.

Actions for Bill H.594

Date	Branch	Action
1/24/2011	House	Referred to the committee on Public Health
1/24/2011	Senate	Senate concurred
10/20/2011	Joint	Hearing scheduled for 10/25/2011 from 10:00 AM-01:00 PM in A-1
12/27/2011	House	Reported favorably by committee and referred to the committee on Health Care Financing
2/23/2012	House	Committee recommended ought to pass with an amendment, substituting a bill with the same title (H3959)
2/23/2012	House	Committee recommended ought to pass and referred to the committee on House Steering, Policy and Scheduling with the amendment pending