Environmental Benefits of Biomass
Meeting Gainesville's future energy needs
Investing in biomass as the primary renewable energy source is the most cost-effective, long-term option currently available in Florida and provides added benefits to the community.
Carbon Neutral
Biomass will allow Gainesville to be well positioned to face possible carbon regulations and to achieve the City’s carbon-reduction goals. Biomass energy is considered carbon neutral because it simply releases the same carbon into the atmosphere that would be released naturally if the wood waste was left to decompose in the forest. In contrast, fossil fuels release new carbon into the air when burned – carbon that would otherwise remain buried deep in the earth.
Air Quality
The majority of wood waste that will be used at the plant is currently burned openly in fields with no air-quality controls. The rest is dumped in landfills or left to decompose in the field, releasing both carbon dioxide and methane, which is at least 20 times more potent as a greenhouse gas than carbon dioxide. The biomass plant will use state-of-the-art technology to produce energy while reducing greenhouse gas emissions as compared to the current methods for disposal.
Forestry Management
The fuel will come from suppliers following strict standards to protect the forests. Additionally, GRU and American Renewables have developed the first forest-stewardship incentive program in the nation to encourage suppliers to perform better than the minimum standards. This will encourage better forestry practices and protection of crucial wildlife habitats. Also, providing an outlet for wood waste reduces the effect of invasive species and cuts the risk for wildfires.
