The town of Scotia, California, is centered around a biomass plant that burns wood waste, generating approximately 20% of the local electricity. While state officials label it as renewable energy, critics argue its carbon emissions are not climate-neutral. Richard Engel from the Redwood Coast Energy Authority defends it by stating it prevents carbon that would otherwise be emitted during decomposition. Conversely, activists, such as Wendy Ring, emphasize the negative impact on climate change despite potential carbon neutrality, advocating for the plant's closure amidst a broader climate debate.
The way these plants work, and their role in the climate crisis, is why activists like Wendy Ring want to see this plant shut down.
At this point, we're getting about 20% of our total electricity needs from that one local biomass plant in Scotia.
Even if, over the long term, burning biomass is carbon neutral, it's not climate neutral, it's not warming neutral.
Biomass is viewed differently because you're taking carbon that, in the absence of the power plants, would still go into the atmosphere as the wood rots.
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