Clean Energy

Other episodes in this series:

Specials

Other episodes in this series:

Talking Biomass

Date:

December 3, 2009

Listen

Traverse City wants to become a national leader in renewable energy. But setting goals and achieving them are two different things. The obvious source of renewable energy is wind. But how do you keep the lights on when the wind doesn't blow? Points North is live on Friday at 9 a.m. with a rebroadcast at 9 p.m.

Please read before you comment (will open in new tab/window): Community Discussion Rules

See More: energy, renewable energy, Traverse City

Comments

No biomass in my community please ... here's why

Submitted by M'Lynn (not verified) on December 14, 2009 - 10:45am.

Biomass burning is a seriously bad idea–here’s why Biomass plants are dirty and unsafe, and make people who live near them ill. Green energy from wind is wonderful. Natural gas which is abundant in this area makes sense in the interim. Conservation of energy is always a great idea! http://JobsAndEnergy.com/Biomass Massachusetts has just placed a moratorium on the new construction of Biomass plants. Traverse City similarly should oppose biomass burning. The wisdom of Biomass burning is coming into question around the globe. It has been found that it can take hundreds of years to recapture and re-sequester the carbon burst created when burning it (some studies suggest thousands of years). Biomass burning is not sustainable in most places, including Michigan. Wood for biomass burning is now being shipped from poor developing nations to fuel existing power plants in Europe. The biomass process is generally felt to be as dirty as coal. Learn more about biomass, conservation, and clean green energy alternatives at http://JobsAndEnergy.com/Biomass

There's more conversation on Facebook

Submitted by Linda Stephan on December 4, 2009 - 11:14am.

Visit our Facebook page.

Thanks!

Let's explore natural gas

Submitted by Gail Semer (not verified) on December 4, 2009 - 11:11am.

Let's explore natural gas before we make any decisions about "biomass". Biomass does not have much of a future here or anywhere else! It is not a truly renewable resource, (forests take decades/centuries to reproduce) and burning anything is highly polluting, carbon intensive. I think we are witnessing alot of wishful thinking and fuzzy reasoning surrounding biomass.

Energy Efficiency

Submitted by Anonymous (not verified) on December 4, 2009 - 10:39am.

I hear a lot of people say that conservation and energy savings is baseload energy. Its cheap, it can create jobs, and it is the most effective way to reduce greenhouse gas emissions. How much of the goal of 30% renewables can be met through conservation and efficiency? With a heightened new awareness of climate change, it seems like this is an area that needs more focus. Is there a game plan for this?