Better Environmental NewsFor Immediate Release Contact: Brett Hulsey, 608-334-4994
Friday, February 6, 2008 Brett@BetterEnviro.Com
Farmers, Conservationists Praise Governor’s Charter Plant Decision-
State Biomass Demand Will Provide Power, Habitat, Cleaner Water
Madison-Farmers, Conservationists, Southwest Badger Resource Conservation and Development (RC&D) Council, Inc, the Wisconsin Wildlife Federation and Better Environmental Solutions today praised Governor Doyle’s decision to make Charter Street power plant 100% biomass.
“I applaud the Governor for his leadership to clean up power plants and jumpstart the biomass economy. This can really restore good habitat which helps fish and wildlife,” said George Meyer, Executive Director of the Wisconsin Wildlife Federation.
Wisconsin leads the nation in biomass energy, which provides 60% of our renewable energy total.
Wisconsin also led the nation in the loss of Conservation Reserve lands over the last two years but state biomass demand could help farmers grow more prairie and woody biomass.
“Planting switchgrass is a great crop for our highly erodible fields,” said Jim Schaefer, a Platteville area farmer. “We want create more markets for grass and other biomass crops for energy and fuels.”
Southwest Badger RC&D has been working with farmers and researchers on six switchgrass test plots and ways to collect woody biomass to restore native prairie and switchgrass and woodlands.
“The state’s demand for biomass will help farmers promote more conservation practices and give us cleaner water and reduced flooding,” said Steve Bertjens, NRCS Southwest Badger RC&D coordinator.
Dane County has more than 480,000 tons of biomass coal equivalent from switchgrass, wood and corn waste that could be burned at Charter Street, the Better Enviro analysis showed.
“Thanks to Governor Doyle’s leadership, Wisconsin can be the Silicon Valley for biomass,” said Brett Hulsey, president of Better Environmental Solutions, an environment and energy consulting firm. “Biomass to energy is one of the most effective ways to reduce air pollution, global warming, provide homes for birds and wildlife, reduce flooding, and cleaner water.”
Better Enviro’s 2007 report, Cellulose Prairie: Biomass Fuel Potential in Wisconsin and the Midwest, showed that Wisconsin has enough excess biomass to replace half our coal burning, significantly reducing the largest source of greenhouse air pollution. See the biomass potential map and power plant map below and report at http://betterenvironmentalsolutions.com/reports/CellulosePrairie.pdf.
Brett Hulsey, MNS
President, Better Environmental Solutions
Practical Solutions Today for a Better Tomorrow
110 Merrill Crest Drive
Madison, WI 53705
Phone: 608-238-6070
Cell: 608-334-4994
Email: Brett@BetterEnviro.Com
Website: www.BetterEnviro.Com