Environmental Benefits

Biomass power generated from locally sourced organic materials make significant contributions to the environment. Every kilowatt of power they produce replaces one made from coal or natural gas, which helps reduce greenhouse gases, acid rain and mercury emissions associated with fossil fuel power.

Biomass power is the ultimate example of "reduce, reuse, recycle," extracting the last bit of value – energy – from the region's wood and agricultural resources, from forest and farm to landfill, cradle to grave. In doing so, we keep these materials off the landscape and mitigate their impact on the environment.

  • Displaces greenhouse gas emissions from fossil fuels
  • Reduces need for landfill space
  • Puts byproduct materials to beneficial use
  • Aids forest health, and habitat maintenance & development

Cleaner Air, Less Carbon

Biomass power is a cleaner alternative to power generated with fossil fuels. Biomass does not have mercury or sulfur emissions that require control technologies like a coal plant. Other emissions are regulated by air permits, continuously monitored and managed with best available control technologies.

Studies show that power produced from sustainable sources, such as forest residuals, helps reduce greenhouse gas accumulation in the atmosphere by preventing the carbon in biomass from becoming methane. The carbon dioxide produced instead is 25 times less potent than methane, and is absorbed by growing plants, completing the "biogenic" carbon cycle.

Why is biomass carbon neutral?

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