Once again proponents of biomass understate the documented health hazards directly associated with emissions of particulate matter 2.5 microns and smaller, none of which will be filtered from the incinerating process under Best Available Control Technology (BACT) conditions. In typical overstated fashion Mr. Brunell exaggerates the position of environmentalists while attempting to co-join job creation with a highly polluting industry. Such sensational shortsightedness has already led to increased logging, creating new pathways for storm-water to carry ground pollutants to water bodies, some of which now boast an 80% mortality rate in shellfish seedlings.

Mr. Brunell also fails to consider the futility of attempting to sustain an ever-growing population on a natural resource based economy. The very fact the timber industry is running pell-mell looking for new and circumventive ways to obtain more control over more land to grow more timber is testament to that fact.

Moreover, innovation, like invention, is derived from necessity. The process of burning wood to produce electricity in the 21^st century is an insult to the true entrepreneurial spirit so many say they hold in so high regard, yet so few embrace in practice.

The bottom line is that burning wood is cheaper and easier than creating innovative, truly sustainable, energy production technology. To those “business types” who are so unimaginatively challenged I say, if biomass is your answer to our energy needs then perhaps you should find another line of work to which you are better suited. 

Tom Davis
Shelton

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