part may be reproduced without the written permission. Why is this? While some researchers argue that using biomass as fuel passes the emissions test, others argue that it will only exacerbate climate change. As Schlesinger reports, each year, an estimated 31% of the carbon dioxide emitted from human activities is stored in forests. But in reality, that's not what's happening. The idea that forest biomass is carbon neutral is not wrong. The demand for pellets is only increasing, Pearce reports, jumping 40 percent between 2012 and 2015 alone. When living trees are used to make wood pellets instead of wood-mill leftovers, wood pellets are no longer carbon neutral, says a U.S. environmental advocate. “And once this self-reinforcing feedback begins, there is no easy way to turn it off. Burning wood pellets releases as much or even more carbon dioxide per unit of energy as burning coal, so in order for burning pellets to be carbon-neutral the carbon emitted into the atmosphere has to be recaptured in regenerated forests, Abt says. She said when living trees are used to make wood pellets, instead of wood-mill leftovers, wood pellets are no longer carbon neutral — one of the reasons the N.W.T. Residual wood, such as tree thinnings and unused tree parts left over at timber mills, is the best material for wood pellets, says Abt. In the meantime, all that atmospheric carbon will continue to drive climate change. In his statement, EPA administrator Scott Pruitt claims the change is a win for sustainable energy and the forestry industry. Apart from any fair dealing for the purpose of private study or research, no googletag.cmd.push(function() { googletag.display('div-gpt-ad-1449240174198-2'); }); In the race to meet clean energy standards, biomass energy is often touted as carbon neutral. Easy to store in dry environments. The Wood Pellet Business is Booming. and Terms of Use. Yesterday, the Environmental Protection Agency announced that it would begin to count the burning of "forest biomass"—a.k.a. Treating it as such – and supporting it with subsidies, as the UK and many other EU member states do – is a flawed path to climate action. His work has appeared in Discover, Popular Science, Outside, Men’s Journal, and other magazines. The series was fascinating, full … The information you enter will appear in your e-mail message and is not retained by Phys.org in any form. Easy to store in dry environments. Advertising Notice As Emma Grey Ellis at Wired reports, forest carbon is not just stored in their wood—a large amount is stored in the soil. As demand for wood pellets rises, old growth forests are also put under pressure of harvest. You may have heard that wood pellets are “carbon neutral,” but that is not entirely correct. Trump’s EPA is expected to propose a new rule declaring burning biomass to be carbon neutral… Accounting for biomass energy often ignores the critical role forests play as a sink for carbon dioxide that might otherwise accumulate in the atmosphere. 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And you can't take the branches without impacting the soil, Sami Yassa, senior scientist at the Natural Resources Defense Council, tells Ellis. In the race to meet clean energy standards, biomass energy is often touted as carbon neutral. It takes many decades for new trees to … Wood pellets a low-carbon fuel No discussion about pellet heating is complete without talking relative carbon footprints – in fact it’s often the main reason to consider switching from more carbon intensive fuels. And one of the big arguments used to support this switch to wood is that the industry would rely on the limbs, chips and sawdust produced by logging and milling that would already be incinerated. “Managed forests improve air and water quality, while creating valuable jobs and thousands of products that improve our daily lives.”. You can be assured our editors closely monitor every feedback sent and will take appropriate actions. Click here to sign in with The stage is also being set for a potential uptick in biomass energy in the US, as Congress may declare biomass carbon neutral in an effort to revive the American forest product industry. To some, it is not initially clear why wood pellets are a carbon neutral fuel, but they are indeed recognized as such by the Kyoto Protocol and by renewable energy policies in the United States. Or research, no part may be reproduced without the written permission history, Science, Outside, ’... Drive climate change and shipping the wood pellets Environmental cost there are put! Daily lives. ” fossil energy during manufacturing and overseas shipping for fuel, the EPA not. History, Science, Outside, Men ’ s Science Advisory Board finished! Generate helps fulfill Paris Agreement commitments in Slovakia side of the additional emissions released during logging and shipping wood... 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