[GRRN] Biomass energy -Reply

Bill Carter (WCARTER@tnrcc.state.tx.us)
Tue, 23 Nov 1999 15:09:32 -0600


One fairly obvious point I failed to make before: if a biomass project
re-vegetates and stabilizes an area of land that was previously barren
and had depleted soils, then it may in fact increase the stock of
sequestered carbon and reduce atmospheric carbon, even though it
periodically harvests a percentage of that new stock for energy
generation. My previous comments assumed that the land in question is
already, or could realistically be, managed as natural forest for
conservation purposes. The benefit of a biomass project depends on
the original condition of the land in question and the real options available
for managing it, as well as on how sparingly and sustainably the
biomass is harvested.