350 Humboldt

350 Humboldt will be meeting in person at our Thursday May 25th meeting at 6 pm — that’s tomorrow at 6.

Where: The Gazebo in Larson Park. Directions are here (from the library at Cal Poly Humboldt). Quick version: Take Sunset from Highway 101 one block, past the skate park. Turn right at first street at the traffic circle (Jay St.). Turn right at end of street in one block (onto Eye St.). Turn right and park at end of street where the tennis courts and parking lot are. The Gazebo is past the tennis courts. There is a porta potty near the tennis courts and playground for kids.

What to bring: a folding chair.  For some reason there is no seating in the Gazebo. Also, you may want to combine the in person meeting with a picnic. There are picnic tables nearby or you can munch while we talk.

What we will be discussing: After a poem is read by poet Kristy Hellum we will be discussing several initiatives to switch the combustion of biomass to cleaner alternatives. Below are a) A statement of the policy position the steering committee is recommending and b) two documents specific to the RCEA contract with Humboldt Sawmill. Please bring a copy of all three with you.

As a reminder, we make decisions by consensus if possible. If that is not possible, an 80% vote is required. Persons who have attended at least one general meeting between November and April are eligible to vote.

350 Humboldt Policy Statement on Burning Woody Biomass

350 Humboldt joins the growing scientific consensus that incinerating wood to produce heat and electricity is not carbon neutral but warms the planet. The biogenic, renewable nature of trees and other biomass does not counteract the high carbon intensity of combustion, which contributes to global warming for many years into the future. As 500 scientists said in a petition to world leaders in 2021: “Regrowing trees and displacement of fossil fuels may eventually pay off this carbon debt, but regrowth takes time the world does not have to solve climate change. As numerous studies have shown, this burning of wood will increase warming for decades to centuries.” ^[1] We must absolutely minimize all GHGs if civilization and other living things are to avoid the most catastrophic effects of climate change.

Making biomass electricity is a sensible option only when there is no less carbon-intensive way to dispose of wood waste or forest residues. Fortunately, modern technologies successfully use biomass as a feedstock for a variety of products. The list includes wood products such as oriented strand board, veneer lumber, plywood, etc.; new materials such as nano cellulose and bioplastics; soil amendments such as compost, mulch, and biochar; and fuels such as ethanol, renewable natural gas, and hydrogen. These fuels can be used to generate electricity or as low carbon alternatives to fossil fuels.

In addition to its warming effects, burning biomass for electricity produces significant air pollution, which––as in Humboldt––affects disadvantaged communities. This is particularly true when––as in Humboldt––the equipment is old and very far from state of the art.

In consequence of these facts, 350 Humboldt will pursue a variety of policies and actions through its Legislative Committee and through special campaigns as needed, including:

• Work to change policies. Biomass electricity obtained by incinerating wood should no longer receive special dispensations or incentives from the California state government. Biopower should be removed from the Renewable Portfolio Standard.[2] The CPUC should remove it from its emissions exemptions.[3] Biopower should be counted under Cap and Trade and must pay for each ton of GHG emissions over 25,000 a year as other power generators do.[4]  All jurisdictions must include emissions from the combustion of biomass in their inventories of greenhouse gases.[5]
• Work to change RCEA. Biomass power currently being purchased by the Redwood Coast Energy Authority should be replaced by renewable sources in line with the RCEA Board’s 2018 pledge to use only “clean and renewable” power sources in 2025 and thereafter. This includes telling RCEA that the Integrated Resource Plan should not include biomass combustion.
• Work to block pellet plants. The Humboldt County Board of Supervisors should not support in any was the current development of two gigantic factories to produce wood pellets for burning for power in other countries.

We also note that wood stoves have the same issues of pollution (of selves and neighbors) and greenhouse gas emissions. For the climate we need electrification of all homes, but in rural Humboldt power outages are a significant risk in that case. The Climate Action Plan committee will work to promote alternatives for individual households that will provide backup during power outages but reduce pollution and global warming.[6]