tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2421486362728092787.post95584250668169618..comments2024-03-21T10:57:36.737+00:00Comments on Irish Sustainable Energy Perspective: America says no - Ireland says YES to biomassBioXLhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/10453931263410889004noreply@blogger.comBlogger1125tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2421486362728092787.post-64471166884269602362010-08-30T10:00:25.830+01:002010-08-30T10:00:25.830+01:00I agree with the above response to the Sunday Time...I agree with the above response to the Sunday Times article. False and simplistic conclusions drawn from published research such as the Manomet report present everyone in the bioenergy sector with a real challenge. This is made worse when political pressure is applied from various sources (though I'm not qualified to comment on the particulars of the Massachusetts case). The word 'incinerator' is quite emotive, especially in Ireland, and holds mainly negative connotations for the public whether rational or not. NIMBYism is always going to be a factor that any sizeable project must contend with, and there are always going to be those who are ideologically opposed to cutting down trees for use in a power plant. Therefore, it behoves the biomass industry to make clear the positive environmental, social and economic aspects of having a strong biomass industry in Ireland and across the EU. Energy crops such as Miscanthus and Willow grow well in the Irish climate and these together with well-managed farm forests will reduce our CO2 emissions as fossil fuels in Ireland and elsewhere are replaced. Statements such as 'biomass worse than coal' only hold up the real progress we need to be making. It is unfortunate that a headline such as this will grab the attention of a casual observer but the demonstrable benefits must also be made clearer.<br />Eamon O'Riordan (JHM)Eamon O'Riordanhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/00730215580316702009noreply@blogger.com