March 27, 2000
The Honorable Thomas R. Carper
The Honorable Thomas B. Sharp
The Honorable Terry R. Spence
Carvel State Office Building
Wilmington, DE 19201
Dear Governor Carper, Senator Sharp and Speaker Spence,
We are writing you in opposition to S. 280, An Act to Amend Title 7 of the
Delaware Code Relating to Incinerators.
S. 280 would classify any facility that burns wood or other clean organic
wastes
as an incinerator, and subject such facilities to stringent siting
requirements.
It is our understanding that such stringent requirements are not imposed on
fossil fuel facilities.
The Union of Concerned Scientists, a national environmental organization, has
researched and advocated for cleaner energy for more than two decades. We are
therefore, keenly aware that there are no energy sources without any
environmental impacts. Clean biomass energy sources, however, such as wood and
clean wood waste products, can reduce harmful air emissions from electricity
generation for
negative impacts on public health, ecosystems, and the threat of global warming
caused by fossil fuel power plants emissions. At the same time, biomass and
other renewables can help diversify the power system, reduce vulnerability to
fuel supply problems and price volatility, and create state and regional
employment opportunities.
Mixed wastes, such as municipal solid waste and contaminated wood wastes, on
the
other hand, can lead to toxic emissions. But a generator that burns clean
wood,
whether it was grown as an "energy crop" or is a segregated
waste material, is
no more an "incinerator" than a power plant that burns coal, oil, or
natural
gas, and should certainly not be subject to discriminatory siting requirements
in comparison to fossil fuel plants.
We hope that instead of legislation that discriminates against a renewable
energy source,
minimum renewable energy requirements, and/or the thirteen states that have
created renewable energy funds to promote the development of renewable
resources. Thank you for your consideration.
Sincerely,
Alan Nogee
Energy Program Director
Union of Concerned Scientists
(617) 547-5552x257
anogee@ucsusa.org
http://www.ucsusa.org
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