UConj 540: Environment and Health
Spring 2011
Biomass energy: A case study in Port Townsend, WA
Questions to ponder
1. Is it a good idea or a bad idea to use waste wood from forest logging operations to produce
energy?
2. Will there be adverse effects on human health or the environment—in local communities or
the local region—from waste-wood biomass energy facilities?
3. Will there be overall gains for human health or the environment—locally or in general—
if society uses waste-wood biomass energy facilities to generate power, compared to the
potential adverse effects or gains from other ways to meet energy needs?
4. Is it valid to classify combustion of wood or waste wood as “carbon neutral,” and
does it provide the basis for a sustainable or “green” industry?
Reading material
Most of the reading materials listed here are provided as optional background reading on this topic.
Required reading is marked by “Req’d” in the left margin.
Regional controversy
New program pays biomass plant suppliers
Seattle Times. Sept 16, 2009
http://seattletimes.nwsource.com/html/businesstechnology/2009880263_apmibiomasssupport.html
EPA gives break to biomass over climate.
Seattle Times. Jan 12, 2011
http://seattletimes.nwsource.com/html/businesstechnology/2013915027_apusbiomassepa.html
Study says Peninsula has plenty of wood for biomass facilities
Peninsula Daily News. Jan 21, 2011
http://www.masoncountyjobs.com/news-stories/study-says-peninsula-has-plenty-of-wood-for-biomass-facilities/
Req’d
Op-Ed: Proposed Washington's biomass incinerators are bad for forests and climate.
Duff Badgley, coordinator for No Biomass Burn, a statewide group fighting biomass incinerators.
Seattle Times. Feb 7, 2011
http://seattletimes.nwsource.com/html/opinion/2014157806_guest08badgley.html
Req’d
Op-Ed: Biomass: a financially and environmentally sustainable way to manage the state's resources.
Peter Goldmark, Washington state's Commissioner of Public Lands. Seattle Times. Feb 11, 2011
http://seattletimes.nwsource.com/html/opinion/2014199446_guest12goldm.html
Req’d
Doubts cast on biomass power in Washington
Seattle Times. March 23, 2011
http://seattletimes.nwsource.com/html/localnews/2014577911_apwabiomasspower1stldwritethru.html
Note: This article refers to the "Manomet" study, which is listed later in this document.
Washington’s Forests: A New Energy Source?
Moore Information [Opinion Research]. July 16, 2010. http://www.moore-info.com/MI_WAForests7.10.htm
Note: Selected survey results are described on next page.
Page 1
UConj 540: Environment and Health
Spring 2011
The Moore Information survey was conducted June 11-13, 2010 among a representative statewide sample of
people who had voted in at least two of the last four primary and general elections.
Question: "Do you support or oppose using woody biomass from sustainably managed forests to produce
electricity and biofuels?” Support: 57%, Oppose: 18%, Don't Know, 26%.
Question: "As you may know, biomass is plant matter, including wood, that can be converted into renewable
energy. In Washington State, two-thirds of all potentially available biomass renewable energy comes from
forests, more than twice all agricultural and other sources combined. After hearing this, do you support or
oppose using woody biomass from sustainably managed forests to produce electricity and biofuels?”
Support: 70%, Oppose: 16%, Don't Know, 14%.
Regional biomass energy facilities
Biomass energy meeting set Aug. 6-7
Port Townsend & Jefferson County Leader. Aug 3, 2010
http://www.ptleader.com/main.asp?FromHome=1&TypeID=1&ArticleID=27472&SectionID=36&SubSectionID=55
Aberdeen lumber mill sells biomass electricity
Seattle Times. Aug 4, 2010
http://seattletimes.nwsource.com/html/localnews/2012530987_apwabiomasslumbermill1stldwritethru.html
Thurston Co. puts brakes on biomass projects [Evergreen State College]
Seattle Times. Dec 22, 2010
http://seattletimes.nwsource.com/html/localnews/2013744485_apwabiomassdebate.html
Groups opposed Port Angeles biomass project
Seattle Times. Jan 19, 2011
http://seattletimes.nwsource.com/html/localnews/2013980881_apwaportangelesbiomass.html
Plans dropped for proposed Wash. biomass plant [Shelton, WA]
Seattle Times. March 14, 2011
http://seattletimes.nwsource.com/html/localnews/2014496788_apwabiomassdropped2ndldwritethru.html
Regional biomass energy facilities: Port Townsend
Req’d
Port Townsend Paper biomass project given green light by Ecology
Peninsula Daily News. Oct 26, 2010
http://www.peninsuladailynews.com/article/20101026/news/310269994/port-townsend-paper-biomass-project-givengreen-light-by-ecology
Req’d
Coalition files appeal of Port Townsend mill biomass permit
Peninsula Daily News. Nov 25, 2010
http://www.peninsuladailynews.com/article/20101126/news/311269997/coalition-files-appeal-of-port-townsend-millbiomass-permit
PT Paper's biomass project challenged in suit
Port Townsend & Jefferson County Leader. Nov 24, 2010
http://ptleader.com/main.asp?SectionID=36&SubSectionID=55&ArticleID=28215
WA Port Townsend: Mill cogen project appeal: It can start work anyway
[Woodsmokehaz4 blog] Dec 1, 2010
http://woodsmokehaz4.wordpress.com/2010/12/01/2010-dec-1-wa-port-townsend-mill-cogen-project-appeal-it-canstart-work-anyway/
Page 2
UConj 540: Environment and Health
Spring 2011
Port Townsend Paper Company
http://www.ptpc.com/
Biomass Cogeneration Project
http://www.ptpc.com/environment.html
WA Department of Ecology
Port Townsend Paper Corporation
http://www.ecy.wa.gov/programs/swfa/industrial/pulp_porttown.html
= Notice of Construction Order (NOC) No. 7850; October 22, 2010
= Comments received, and response to comments.
PT Air Watchers
http://airwatchers.ning.com/
Carbon dioxide (greenhouse gas) emissions expected from Port Townsend Paper Corporation’s cogeneration project
http://airwatchers.ning.com/notes/Biomass_%26_Greenhouse_Gas
PT Biomass FAQ
http://airwatchers.ning.com/notes/PT_Biomass_FAQ
General information: International perspective
Bundles of energy: the case for renewable biomass energy
Duncan Macqueen, Sibel Korhaliller. International Institute for Environment and Development (IIED), 2011.
Downloadable for free at: http://pubs.iied.org/13556IIED.html
Recommended: Ch. 1, Introducing biomass energy; Ch. 2, Scale of current and projected future biomass resource use
General information: US government
US Energy Information Administration
Renewable Energy Trends in Consumption and Electricity (2008 Edition; released Aug 2010)
http://www.eia.doe.gov/cneaf/solar.renewables/page/trends/rentrends.html
US National Renewable Energy Laboratory
Biomass Energy Basics
http://www.nrel.gov/learning/re_biomass.html
Biopower
http://www.nrel.gov/learning/re_biopower.html
US Department of Energy
Biomass Program
http://www1.eere.energy.gov/biomass/
Biomass FAQs
http://www1.eere.energy.gov/biomass/biomass_basics_faqs.html
† Regional Biomass Energy Programs
http://www1.eere.energy.gov/biomass/state_regional.html
General information: Regional government and organizations
† Pacific Region Bioenergy Partnership
http://www.pacificbiomass.org/
"The Pacific Regional Bioenergy Partnership is a regional effort that encourages the development of bioenergy
Page 3
UConj 540: Environment and Health
Spring 2011
in Alaska, Hawaii, Idaho, Montana, Oregon and Washington. It is supported by the U.S. Department of Energy
and state energy offices."
Oregon Department of Energy
BioEnergy in Oregon
http://www.oregon.gov/ENERGY/RENEW/Biomass/BiomassHome.shtml
BioEnergy Washington
BioEnergy Washington is "a multi-agency group that...is working towards the development of a bioenergy industry
in Washington State. Members include the Washington State Departments of Agriculture, Ecology, Transportation
and Licensing, the Washington State Conservation Commission, the Department of Community Trade and
Economic Development, the Washington State University Extension Energy Program and the Washington State
University Center for Sustaining Agriculture and Natural Resources and the University of Washington."
Washington's Website for BioEnergy Information
http://www.bioenergy.wa.gov/Default.aspx
Biomass
http://www.bioenergy.wa.gov/Biomass.aspx
BioEnergy Washington Project Reports:
http://www.bioenergy.wa.gov/Rpts_Projects_WA.aspx [see item #6]
Req’d
UW Forest Bioenergy Utilization
HB 1128, Chapter 522 directed the University of Washington College of Forest Resources to identify barriers to
using the state’s forest resources for fuel production. The final report, Wood to Energy in Washington:
Imperatives, Opportunities, and Obstacles to Progress, June 2009, can be viewed at:
Full report: http://www.ruraltech.org/pubs/reports/2009/wood_to_energy/index.asp
Executive summary (full): http://www.ruraltech.org/pubs/reports/2009/wood_to_energy/pdf/ExecSummaryFull.pdf
Executive summary (brief): http://www.ruraltech.org/pubs/reports/2009/wood_to_energy/pdf/ExecSummaryBrief.pdf
UW School of Forest Resources
Woody Biomass—Renewable Energy for Washington State?
http://www.washington.edu/alumni/partnerships/cfr/201004/biomass.html
Municipal Research and Services Center [Seattle-based organization]
Biomass Power in Washington
http://www.mrsc.org/Subjects/Planning/energy/e-biomass.aspx
General information: Other organizations
Union of Concerned Scientists
How Biomass Energy Works
http://www.ucsusa.org/clean_energy/technology_and_impacts/energy_technologies/how-biomass-energy-works.html
Manomet Center for Conservation Sciences
http://www.manomet.org
There are two relevant sections on this Manomet “Natural capital” web page: http://www.manomet.org/node/322
Req’d
1. Biomass Sustainability and Carbon Policy Study [bottom of Manomet web page]
Full report: http://www.manomet.org/sites/manomet.org/files/Manomet_Biomass_Report_Full_LoRez.pdf
Executive summary: http://www.manomet.org/sites/manomet.org/files/Manomet_Biomass_Report_ExecutiveSummary.pdf
2. Manomet Study of Woody Biomass Energy: Two Critiques of ‘The Manomet Study’ Released [top of web page].
Page 4