BIOMASS HUB

AP reports that a battle is brewing over Duke Energy’s proposed use of whole trees for biomass power in coal-fired power plants.  Environmental groups are fighting back claiming that the ability to use whole trees without replanting requirements would decimate local forests and lead to excessive erosion.

Duke Energy has sought approval from the North Carolina Utilities Commission to burn wood, including chips from cutting up whole trees, along with coal at two power plants.  The use of biomass is a key strategy to meet requirements under a 2007 law that establishes a 12.5 RPS by 2021 and aims to reduce the amount of GHG emissions associated with coal-burning plants.  A broad definition of “woody biomass” — which includes chipping whole trees — would boost utilities ability to meet RPS obligations.

Environmental groups have filed legal challenges arguing that the legislation does not include whole trees under its “wood waste” definition.  Derb Carter, director of the Southern Environmental Law Center, argues:

Where the legislation says ‘swine waste’ and ‘poultry waste,’ it doesn’t envision burning pigs and chickens.

Dickson Phillips III, a Chapel Hill lawyer who leads the Environmental Management Commission’s renewable energy committee, adds:

We’re going to have a game-changing demand on wood resources.  It seemed like the appropriate time to make sure we don’t do something we’re going to regret.

Read more about the legal battle over the definition of woody biomass in the Carolinas.