Blog Archive

Friday, April 30, 2021

A Dirty Zombie Biomass Enviro Show

Greetings Earthlings. As you may have discovered, the dirty zombie biomass plant proposed for the Asthma Capitol of the Nation (better known as Springfield, MA) may finally be history. Susan Theberge of Climate Action Now joins us along with Mireille Bejjani of Community Action Works, and Springfield resident and activist Elizabeth Pereira returns to the show to do the hopeful postmortem. As usual we'll also bring you along to meet this week's Fool-on-the-Hill and try Abidin' with Biden for an abbreviated version of the show, but first it's time for.........Revenge of the Critters!  South African Baboons move in on the Colonials.

This week's Fool-on-the-Hill is Repugnican domestic terrorist Rep. Paul A. Gosar of Arizona, you know, the guy who spoke at a white nationalist conference and allegedly helped plan the rally ahead of the Capitol riot?  The fool whose nine siblings want him removed from office for his anti-American activity. We're thinking besides being a terrorist and a total fascist he's a real fool for staying on, yes?

We're going to continue Abidin' with Biden given his International Climate Summit on Earth Week was pretty much of a success, albeit a qualified one. One of our unanswered questions concerns Gina McCarthy,  White House National Climate Advisor, tasked with coordinating the Biden administration’s domestic climate agenda. Our brief search found McCarthy promoting dirty biomass back in 2015. We aren't finding any recent reference, you? 


We have a lengthy interview segment for this show which we will post above ASAP as well,as this LINK on dirty biomass. For now, it's on to the Bus Stop Billboard:


Saturday, May 15, 1:00 – 3:30pm. The Nolumbeka Project will host a gathering at Peskeompskut Park in Turners Falls, MA, to commemorate the 345th anniversary of the Great Falls Massacre on May 19, 1676. This event is considered the major turning point of King Philip’s War when 300 non-combatant women, children and elders perished at the falls during a surprise pre-dawn attack by Captain William Turner and colonial militia. Bring chairs and blankets for seating. Go here for more: https://www.facebook.com/events/4055328877879282/ 


Wednesday, May 19, 7:30 -8:30pm.  The Climate Benefits of Regenerative Agriculture, Carbon Farming, and SilvopasturePresented by Connor Stedman, a farm business planner, climate educator, and Principle and Lead Designer at Appleseed, a Regenerative Design and Holistic Farm Planning firm based in western Massachusetts and the Hudson Valley. Silvopasture unites animal grazing with a forested landscape, to sequester more carbon, reduce carbon emissions, increase crop yields, and improve livestock health. Connor supports farms at all scales to successfully adopt industry-leading carbon farming systems. Connor speaks and consults widely and serves as affiliate instructor with the University of Vermont's innovative Leadership for Sustainability graduate program. Register HERE


Saturday May 22, 10:30am to 12:30pm.   CT River Survival Walk II. Walk-the-Walk for endangered shortnose sturgeon.  Join Karl Meyer on a walk to the Rock Dam—the critically endangered habitat and only documented natural spawning site for the federally-endangered Connecticut River shortnose sturgeon. Meyer intervened with the Federal Energy Regulatory Commission to stop the grim, eroding conditions created by the Northfield Mountain Pumped Storage Project and Turners Falls Dam. He’s written about sturgeon for years and authored the reknowned “Shortnose Stout” beer brand in 2013. Rock Dam is a 200 million year-old natural gem that’s helped keep the thread for this 100 million year old sturgeon species alive on the Connecticut for centuries. Learn about the shortnose’s life cycle and the industrial and natural history of this abused and undefended site going back to pre-dam times. Come, learn, protect.   Directions: Meet at the parking lot at the south end of G Street in Turners Falls for this 3/4 mile walk (1-1/2 mile round trip). Take Avenue A in Turners Falls to 11th Street. Cross the 11th St. Bridge over the canal and make the first left onto G Street. Follow G to parking lot just before the USGS Conte Anadromous Fish Research Center sign. Program runs rain or shine. ACCESS NOTE: this walk is mostly flat, but access to Rock Dam is on short steep terrain. For further information phone: 413-773-0006


Monday May 24, 7pm.  Climate Action Now MA monthly meeting via Zoom. Registration info and updates: https://www.facebook.com/ClimateActionNowMA/  


Until next time please remember to........LISTEN TO YOUR MOTHER!  




2 comments:

Werner Rhein said...

Wood biomass is not dirty if it is used with the right equipment. The right equipment these days would be wood gasification units, which have no chimney and operating with relative low temperature. Between 600 and 1000 degrees Celsius. The wood is heated up just to pyrolises and all the gases coming of are cleaned and cooled to be used like natural gas. Mainly in engines to drive electric generators.

The man issue here is the the CO2 released. after it is burned in engines, boilers, furnaces, or other appliances..

This CO2 is NEUTRAL, because it was existing in the atmosphere and does not come from deep underground.

It goes back into trees and other plants which a renewable energy source.

Please learn and think before you discredit a real renewable energy source. If it is done correctly.

Werner Rhein said...

Why do you call this Biomess?
There is not one word in you opening for this event about the burning of biomass?

I know all the biomass incinerating facilities are burning not clean, I know that. So the way it is used has to change.

The using of biomass to produce electricity, the cleanest type of energy, is CO2 neutral, and it is clean when using the old technology of gasification.

The technology of gasification is suppressed from the fossil fuel industry, which is also prorating that biomass is producing CO2.
The only difference from the CO2 in Biomass to fossil fuel is it is already existing in Nour atmosphere and doesn't com from deep underground and is added to our atmosphere.

That means it is CO2 neutral.

Gasification has no chimney, all the gases are captured, cleaned and then used in engines to drive generators. Only in that end stage is CO2 released and no micro particles.

If biomass naturally roots away it releases all the CO2 stored in that biomass. It is a natural cycle.

If wood biomass is burning in forest fires it is releasing the most possible amount of CO2 stored in all the biomass of that forest, and it it releasing uncontrolled micro particles, which can be cancerous if inhaled.

Wood biomass can be harvested selective from overaged trees, from clearing road ways, and from clearing land for new construction. NO clear cuts.
The harvested biomass has to be died to a maximum of 19 % moister content. Best in the form of chipped.

Please get informed and do not follow the propaganda from the fossil fuel industry.

Werner Rhein, 60 years of working with wood gasification boilers.