South Carolina is currently grappling with the transition to biomass and clean energy. The war on and decline of coal, a historically inexpensive energy source, has struck the Palmetto State particularly hard. Eight coal plants have been retired since 2012 and six more will be retiring by 2020 to meet the Clean Power Plan standards.
The empty coal plants sit unused, causing utilities to vigorously eye woody biomass to replace the coal operation. Woody biomass is the burning of wood products to produce energy. The infrastructure for woody biomass is essentially the same as that of a coal-fired power plant making it an ideal replacement. Woody biomass also meets baseload energy criteria which is critical to the energy grid.
Baseload is the minimum amount of energy needed to be produced to meet energy demand. It is driven by the energy usage of the customers. To meet that demand, a steady and reliable source of energy needs to be present. Since woody biomass, like coal, can be put in an incinerator at any time and burned, it can meet baseload demand.
This easy answer should not be taken lightly. Although the Clean Power Plan is calling for a reduction in carbon, the ultimate reason it was implemented was to halt impending climate change. Forests offer a first line of defense against accumulating carbon dioxide and threatening that purpose for energy would be detrimental to the cause. Furthermore, biomass energy is still arguably a risky energy source.
The Partnership for Policy Integrity compiled a report of “88 biomass plants in 25 states” and found “per capita, biomass plants can release more volatile organic compounds, particulate matter, nitrogen oxides and carbon monoxide than a coal plant.” Biomass plants are able to “release 2.5 times more pollution than a coal plant.”
From Myrtle Beach Online: https://www.myrtlebeachonline.com/opinion/letters-to-the-editor/article49641400.html