Image Matters Biomass is losing ground to other renewable energy options because of its poor public image. classmates. Consumers, media, and govern- ment subsidies are being charmed by solar, wind, and geothermal energy while biomass becomes the outcast child. The public has touted biomass as worse than fossil fuels, and at least one person (who clearly skipped math class) has stated that it requires two trees planted to replace each one removed for biomass. How did the public be- I come so misinformed? The biomass industry has not been effective at educating people about biomass energy. Cer- tainly, not as effective as proponents of other complementary sources of renewable energy. It’s not that the other renewable energies don’t have their faults. Each option has its own en- vironmental pros and cons. But a forest-based industry like biomass is at a prior disadvan- tage because of forestry’s long history in North America—it already has black marks against it for previous clear cutting and perceived lack of forest regeneration. It is little wonder that the current perception is that forests will be mowed down and burned to produce energy, putting more carbon into the atmosphere than burning fossil fuels, and removing the trees that were previously absorbing carbon. It’s time to brush up this image of biomass if it is to remain a viable renewable energy op- tion. A good start would be to clarify what biomass is. Comments from outside the in- dustry make it clear that people assume that trees are being cut to provide biomass. The majority of people have no idea that, previ- ously, when trees were cut for timber harvest, thinning, and fire risk reduction, the slash and 4 CanadianBIOMASS n the popularity contest among alternative bioenergy options, biomass is the kid get- ting shunned in favour of its better-dressed unmerchantable timber (now biomass) were simply burned in the forest anyway. And they don’t know that the residuals from sawmilling were landfilled, burned in beehive burners, or piled unused, without harnessing the available energy. By using biomass, the waste is combusted under emissions-controlled conditions to provide heat and energy and is diverted from landfills. However, this so-called waste wood will not remain the only source of biomass. Roundwood is already be- ingmade into wood pellets, for example. So the biomass industry has a vested inter- est in ensuring that biomass sources are harvested sus- tainably. After all, if the biomass harvest is not sustainable, the industry will not be sustain- able. The biomass industry is not exempt from forest harvesting guidelines whereby the cut is counterbalanced by new growth. In addition, the provinces are developing and evaluating policies for sustainable biomass extraction, and those policies will continue to evolve with additional research and industry development. These messages must get out to the public. Finally, third-party sustainability certifica- tion for biomass and its products would give consumers a tangible assurance of responsible resource use. Although the solar, wind, and geothermal sectors seem to be getting their message across clean and clear, biomass is not. And until it does, it will continue to be the last player chosen for the team and to relinquish poten- tial market share to other forms of renewable energy. • Heather Hager, Associate Editor [email protected] BIOMASS CANADIAN Volume 7 Editor/Group Publisher - Scott Jamieson (519) 429-3966 ext 244 [email protected] Associate Editor - Heather Hager (519) 429-3966 ext 261 [email protected] Contributors - Colleen Cross, Melissa Damota, Guy Fortin, Bill Tice Market Production Manager Josée Crevier (514) 457-2211 ext 21 [email protected] National Sales Managers Tim Tolton - [email protected] 514-237-6614 Guy Fortin - [email protected] 90 Morgan Rd, Unit 14 Baie d’Urfé, Que H9X 3A8 Ph: (514) 457-2211 Fax: (514) 457-2558 Western Sales Manager Tim Shaddick - [email protected] 1660 West 75th Ave Vancouver, B.C. V6P 6G2 Ph: (604) 264-1158 Fax: (604) 264-1367 Production Artist - Brooke Shaw Canadian Biomass is published five times a year; March, June, August, October, and December. Published and printed by Annex Publishing & Printing Inc., and distributed as a supplement to Canadian Forest Industries and Canadian Wood Products magazines. Printed in Canada ISSN 0318-4277 Circulation e-mail: [email protected] Tel: (514) 457-2211 Fax: (514) 457-2558 Mail: 90 Morgan Rd, Unit 14 Baie d’Urfé, Que H9X 3A8 Subscription Rates: Canada - 1 Yr $48; 2 Yr $85; 3 Yr $115 Single Copy - $6.00 (Canadian prices do not include applicable taxes) USA – 1 Yr $44 US; 2 Yr $75 US Foreign – 1 Yr $75 US From time to time, we at Canadian Biomass make our subscription list available to reputable companies and organizations whose products and services we believe may be of interest to you. If you do not want your name to be made available, contact our circulation department in any of the four ways listed above. No part of the editorial content of this publication may be reprinted without the publisher’s written permission ©2009 Annex Publishing & Printing Inc. All rights reserved. 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