Ref. Ares(2015)5149250 - 17/11/2015
From:
SLINGENBERG Yvon (CAB-ARIAS CAÑETE)
Sent:
Tuesday 17 November 2015 16:31
To:
CAB ARIAS CANETE ARCHIVES
Subject:
FW: The Problems with Wood Pellet Bioenergy: Eight New Developments
pls register
Yvon
From: Hammel, Debbie
[mailto:xxxxxxx@xxxx.xxx]
Sent: Thursday, November 05, 2015 5:02 PM
To: Hammel, Debbie
Cc: Hammel,
Debbie; xxxx.xxxxxx@xxxxxxxx.xxx; Duncan Law (xx@xxxxxxxxx.xx.xx)
Subject: The Problems with Wood Pellet Bioenergy: Eight New Developments
Dear Sir/Madam,
EU member states increasingly rely on electricity generated by wood-burning power
stations to meet their renewable targets. Some member states support these with vast
amounts of subsidies. Drax in UK alone is estim
ated to have received at least £340
million last year. These subsidies are paid under the assumption that bioenergy is a
sustainable, carbon neutral form of energy. Yet studies show that burning wood pellets
for electricity can result in higher greenhouse gas emissions than burning coal,
exacerbating our impacts on climate change. At the same time the last remaining wetland
forests in the US are threatened by European demand for such pellets.
The case against bioenergy and wood pellet production is heating up. Over the last few
months a number of important developments have highlighted the destructive impact to
biodiversity and ecosystems, exposed the faulty carbon accounting that is the backbone
of the industry, and revealed that negative impacts that wood pellet production is having
on the economy and people of the Southern US. Below is a synopsis of eight recent
developments:
1. New Report Reveals Wood Pellet Production Threatens Wetlands - The last
remaining wetland forests in the Southern US are under imminent threat of destruction by
the emerging wood pellet industry, according to a new report by NRDC. The report
assesses the potential scale of the threat from existing and planned wood pellet mills to
some of the most biologically rich wetland forests in the US - bottomland hardwood
forests. Findings reveal that millions of acres of these vulnerable forests are in the bulls-
eye of these facilities’ potential sourcing areas. The data shows the geographic nexus
between the region's unprotected bottomland hardwood forests and wood pellet
manufacturing facilities. Download the repor
t HERE. 2. Over 100,000 Americans have called on the UK and EU to end misguided biomass
subsidies - Over the last year, more than 100,000 people from across the Southern US
have sent emails to Amber Rudd, the head of the UK Department of Energy and Climate
Change, and leaders in the EU calling on these decision-makers to end misguided
subsidies for burning wood for electricity at the expense of the environment,
communities and the climate in the US. You can see a short call to actio
n video HERE ,
and a national action alert HERE.
3. New documented evidence of the use of whole trees and wetland forests for wood
pellet production in the Southern US - Multiple investigations initiated by US ENGO
Dogwood Alliance have documented the increase in logging of whole trees and wetland
forests in the production of wood pellets. Photographic evidence shows logging sites,
trucks traveling to and from logging sites and unloading those logs at pellet mills. The
most recent investigatio
ns can be viewed HERE and HERE.
4. Two Independent Studies Assess CO2 Impacts of Wood Pellet Production in the
South – A Spatial Informatics Group LLC report assessed the atmospheric carbon
effects of Enviva/Drax’s biomass practices using the BEAC (Biomass Emissions and
Counterfactual) Model developed by DECC to evaluate the Enviva/Drax supply and
combustion scenario. They found even using the most conservative estimates that
emissions would still exceed the DECC carbon standard by four times, and would be at
least 20% higher than co
ntinuing to burn coal. You can view the report HERE
In a second study, NRDC analyzed the climate pollution impacts of burning wood pellets
produced in the US southeast and exported to the UK to produce electricity. They
compared those emissions with coal and natural gas and showed that if the wood pellets
are made of whole trees—even in relatively small proportions of about 12 percent —they
will emit carbon pollution comparable to or in excess of fossil fuels for more than five
decades. You can view the repo
rt HERE.
5. New Report Shows Negative Economic Impacts of Wood Pellet Manufacturing in
the US South - A new report examines the detrimental impact of wood pellet
manufacturing on the long-term economic viability of the South and how it vastly
outweighs short-term gains. “Wood Pellet Manufacturing: Risks for the Economy of the
US South,” explores two major themes – the damage wood pellet production could have
on the long-term viability of higher quality wood product manufacturing and markets,
and the long-term consequences to the services and amenities forests provide rural and
coastal communities. You can view the repo
rt HERE.
6. National Academy of Sciences report on biodiversity - A report published this year
from the National Academy of Sciences highlights a disturbing national conservation
priority disconnect: While the nation’s highest concentrations of endemic bird, reptile and
tree species diversity are found in the wetland forests of the US Southeast, the majority of
protected forests are in the West. The Southeast US is the primary hotspot for wood
pellet production mainly for the European ma
rket. You can read the study HERE. 7. Documenting the Impact of Wood Pellet Production on Local Communities - A
new short documentary, “Selling Out Sampson County: How the Wood Pellet Industry is
Disrupting Rural Southern Communities,” examines the impact that the exponential
growth of new wood pellet facilities is having on the economy, health, and quality of life
in rural communities across the Southern US. You can view the documentary HERE.
8. US EPA Releases Clean Power Plan and Independent Scientists Back Strict
Biomass Regulations - In July, the US Environmental Protection Agency released the
Clean Power Plan to regulate smoke stack carbon emissions from electric utilities. In it
the agency expressed concern about biomass having a major role in a renewable energy
future and also doubts that sustainability standards would be enough to ensure true
carbon reductions. These findings were echoed in an earlier letter by 78 scientists from
across the US to the agency. You can view the letter from them
HERE.
Please feel free to contact us should you have any questions regarding these materials or
would like additional information.
Best Regards,
DEBBIE HAMMEL
Director, Land Markets Initiative
NATURAL RESOURCES DEFENSE COUNCIL
111 SUTTER ST., 20TH FLOOR
SAN FRANCISCO, CA 94104
T 415.875.6156
xxxxxxx@xxxx.xxx
NRDC.ORG
P l e a s e s a v e p a p e r .
T h i n k b e f o r e p r i n t i n g .
Document Outline