In our search for information on these Biomass Plants we came across the following recent study and thought it would be helpful to our town officials to have as much information as possible when it comes to putting this plant in our downtown area.
Solid fuels (biomass as well as coal) generally contain a considerable amount of ash forming elements, which clearly distinguishes them from liquid and gaseous fossil fuels. Bottom ashes and fly ashes emitted with the flue gas are usually formed during combustion. The fly ash can be divided into coarse fly ashes and aerosols (particles with a diameter <1 μm). These ash fractions may cause both plant internal and emission problems.
Appropriate dust separation devices must be applied to meet current dust emission standards, which is not a problem for medium- and large scale applications since highly efficient filter systems such as baghouse filters and electrostatic precipitators are economically affordable for installations. For small-scale biomass combustion systems, however, no highly efficient and economically sound dust precipitators are available on the market to date, which has led to significant R&D efforts in this field. This is of special importance since many European regions are currently facing severe air quality problems regarding fine particulate matter (especially PM10), and small-scale biomass combustion systems have already been identified as a major emission source together with industry and traffic.
Plant problems caused by ashes mainly include deposit formation, slagging and corrosion. Slagging, e.g. on the grate of a combustion system, may disturb the combustion process and in extreme cases even damage the grate. Deposit formation on boiler walls and tube surfaces reduces the heat transfer and thus the efficiency of combustion units. Severe deposit formation can also lead to the blocking of heat exchanger sections, necessitating unexpected plant shutdowns for deposit removal and boiler cleaning. Furthermore, deposits can be corrosive and may thus reduce the lifetime of the installations. Considerable R&D efforts are being made to find technological solutions for these problems, especially for large-scale combustion units using waste wood or herbaceous biomass fuels.
This paper presents the latest research results on ash and aerosol (fine particulate) formation and behavior. The knowledge of these processes forms the basis for R&D regarding all relevant ash related problems mentioned above, and is therefore essential for the development of measures concerning the reduction of fine particulate emissions as well as concerning the reduction of deposit formation and corrosion problems in biomass furnaces and boilers.
Subscribe to:
Post Comments (Atom)
26 comments:
It would seem that Mr. Gabler has left the building and will not be responding to any more comments and questions on this blog. Perhaps it was his superiors that influenced his decision to stop responding or the fact that much of the information he provided on how clean and green Biomass plants are, just isn't so.
There's a reason these plants are called biomass; they burn anything chipped up and delivered to them.. period. They don't just burn virgin wood from slag left over from timber operations. They have no idea exactly what is in a truckload of chips being dumped in the holding areas and don't really care.. they're just burning chips they'll say.
They tell us they won't be burning and construction or demolition debris either and that this is against NH law. That is not true, a proposed plant for Hinsdale a couple of years back ( which they successfully fought to keep out ) listed C&D debris among the products it would burn.
They tell us how clean burning wood is; yet numerous health studies show us otherwise.
They tell us how green this business is; yet scientist have banded together to inform us that this is not so, that they emit more greenhouse gases and particulate pollution than coal fired furnaces and that they are a major contributor to global warming and climate change.
As Winchester strives to move forward do we want to be known as the biggest contributor to health issues and pollution in the Cheshire area, a threat to our neighbors?
And lastly, think of the impact to our town and surrounding areas as unchecked cutting of our forests for huge profits goes rampant and the large number of diesel fueled trucks spewing carbon and fumes ride our highways and back roads delivering who knows exactly what to be burned at this plant all for the sake of a few jobs, that could cause other industries to raise prices and possibly lay off their own workers for a lack of supply of wood.
You make the call, we've provided factual information to help our town officials make an informed decision and to give you all a clearer picture of what to expect if this plant gets approved. It's up to you to let them know your feelings whether pro or con, we can't do it for you.
Thank you Informer for all of the information you and others have provided to all of us. As badly as we need tax help in this town the trade off with the health issues and the inevitable destruction of the surrounding forests and the heavy truck traffic doesn't seem to justify having this plant in Winchester. I don't know how we as a town can stop this as it seems by going the public route our selectmen and planning board are set to approve this no matter what. I'd strongly suggest we all attend the upcoming meetings and voice our disapproval and hope they listen to us for a change. This is just too costly a project for our town.
You have provided a wealth of information as to why this would not be good for Winchester. As I see it only a few are going to benefit, the Beamans, several well known loggers and of course a few others behind the scenes. This will not be anything good for our town at all. They talk of powering downtown with steam generated from the plant, but just think of the costs to taxpayers to pay for the construction, piping and maintenance of this network all to save a few thousand dollars in oil consumption yearly. How many years will it take to recoup the thousands spent on this hair brained idea? It's obvious that the RED committee had a big hand in CPD coming here, a get rich quick scheme for a few, to hell with the rest of us. John Gomarlo and Margaret Sharra and the others who have a hand in this have not done their duties and looked at the full consequence of having a business in down town or anywhere in Winchester that causes such health issues to us citizens and our children. If this is such a great thing, why are so many towns, health officials, scientists and others dead set against it? I too want to thank the Informer and the others who have stepped up and provided us with real facts to counter what we heard at the meeting last week. This is not something we should allow to happen for the sake of everyone who'll be living in the areas affected by the toxins and carcinogens released by this plant all for the sake of the almighty dollar.
lies lies and more lies. these plants are clean or the government would be a stop to them. go away informer and stop trying to hurt a much needed business and tax break for all of us. your whats wrong for winchester.
It's my understanding that there is a town ordinance that we will have to change in order to get this through. Split hairs all you want on this-it is going to be the way to accomplish this. You notice that Mr. Gabler has not had anything more to say. Perhaps he has done more research or an attorney has said to him pick up your trucks and go home. Either way I don't care as I do like to breathe.
Keep up the good work people. There are many of us out there that do not want this project. Thank you for the information. Remember if we pass this plant the price of wood will go up and of course we will all pay.
Not lies, lies, lies but FACTS, well researched reports, not propaganda and not just by the informer folks but many of us in Winchester that have taken the time and effort to do the research the town obvioulsy did not do before they invited CPD to start this process. Many posting have never posted on this site before but want people to know the truth. The informer may have the reputation for being nay sayers but in this case they are providing valid concrete facts, as well, as many other people from Winchester, Northfield and Hinesdale. The same people, like you,also want business in town and a better tax base but if you think CPD will help our tax base, you are dead wrong. They will not pay much in the way of taxes.... if any. They will get energy credits and will not pay taxes on any of the plant that is used for pollution control for one thing. They will basically be tax free. Even CPD admits that!!! So before you say lies, lies, lies, do your homework and see the valid sources of the information provided. For example find and read the articles on Concord Steam's 74 recent serious violations from OSHA and realize these same folks will be the ones building a bio mass plant in our town. They are basically one and the same folks and they do not have Winchester's best interest as heart..........at all.
Wood Ash: The unregulated radwaste
While cleaning ashes from his fireplace two years ago, Stewart A. Farber mused that if trees filter and store airborne pollutants, they might also harbor fallout from the nuclear weapons tests of the 1950s and 1960s. On a whim, he brought some of his fireplace ash to Yankee Atomic Electric Companies' environmental lab in Boston, Mass., where he manages environmental monitoring. Farber says he was amazed to discover that his sample showed the distinctive cesium and strontium 'signatures' of nuclear fallout-and that the concentration of radioactivity "was easily 100 times greater than anything (our Lab) had ever seen in an environmental sample.
Since then, he has obtained wood-ash radioactivity assays from 16 other scientists across the nation. These 47 data sets, representing trees in 14 states, suggest that fallout in wood ash "is a major source of radioactivity released into the environment," Farber says. With the exception of some very low California readings, all measurements of ash with fallout-cesium exceeded - some by 100 times or more - the levels of radioactive cesium that may be released from nuclear plants (about 100 picocuries per kilogram of sludge). Ash-cesium levels were especially high in the Northeast - probably because naturally high levels of nonradioactive cesium in the soil discourage trees from releasing fallout-derived cesium through their roots, he says.
Industrial wood burning in the United States generates and estimated 900,000 tons of ash each year: residential and utility wood burning generates another 543,000 tons. Already, many companies are recycling this unregulated ash in fertilizers. The irony, Farber says, is that federal regulations require releases from nuclear plants to be disposed of as radioactive waste if they contain even 1 percent of the cesium and strontium levels detected in the ash samples from New England. If ash were subject to the same regulations, he says, its disposal would cost U.A. wood burners more than $30 billion annually."
From: Science News: The Weekly Newsmagazine
A Science Service Publication
Volume 140, No.6, August 10. 1991
Informer - Very interesting post on ash problems, as this points to exactly the point that I have been making. A state of the art medium sized biomass plant, such as the one we will be building in Winchester has "highly efficient filter systems such as baghouse filters and electrostatic precipitators" to effectively control emissions.
However, small-scal residential systems have no such controls and actually have a much higher emissions rate than our 20 MW plant. That is why, as your research demonstrates that "small-scale (residential) biomass combustions systems have already been identified as a major emission source". That is why the NH DES has been taking steps to try and control these small units.
We have repeatedly stated that we will NOT be burning construction and demolitio (C&D) debris, because we will not. Plain and simple, it is against the law in the State of New Hampshire to burn C&D debris. Our air permit will not allow it and we will not be burning any. So, please, no more allegations of C&D, it is just not true.
In regards to your statement of unchecked cutting. First, consider that there are currently 16 biomass power plants operating in the State of New Hampshire, and most of those have been in operation 25 years.
Then, consider that New Hampshire is the second most forested state in the nation, at 84% forest cover.
Sorry, but decades of experience do not support your allegation of excessive impact on the forest. Beyond that, take a look at the aerial views around Bridgewater, Whitefield, Springfield, or any other biomass plant and you will see that there has been no clear cutting, that the forests are managed and growing well.
Anonymous, I have not said anything because I have been very busy and haven't had the time recently to get onto the internet until tonight.
Just wondering what the Informers and its supporters ideas are for more jobs....we keep hearing what we dont want but I would like to hear your ideas for more jobs and a better life. everyone keeps focasing on the stuff we supposably dont want, well what do we want.
Mr. Gabler; it's one thing to mislead people claiming how green and clean this plant is going to be; but to tell us a 20MW plant is a state of the art medium size plant is quite a stretch. The report was about plants such as the one you propose to build, not small scale residential units, stop with the spin. We both know there are no highly efficient and economically sound state of the art biomass plants, especially for large-scale combustion units using waste wood or herbaceous biomass fuels.
You continue to state you will not be burning any C&D waste; but all we have is your word on this; how do you propose to check each chip prior to burning to be sure it hasn't come from a construction or demolition waste? How about sending us your air permit so we can post it for those who didn't attend the meeting and probably won't be able to attend the next one either ( if there is one ) In researching biomass plants every one we've checked on, does burn C&D debris.
You state that there are currently 16 biomass plants in NH and have been operating for up to 25 years and that experience outweighs common sense, scientific and medical fact,I don't agree. Times are changing, serious studies have been done and more are in the works. What was once thought a good alternative energy source has turned out to be anything but. The facts are undeniable, burning wood on a large scale basis releases a highly toxic combination of dangerous chemicals which contribute to a growing number of health issues.
You're here for the tax breaks, gov't incentives and the fact that we're a small, divided cash strapped town. Hinsdale didn't want a biomass plant built there, neither does Northboro,Ma. and a lot of other small towns in the surrounding area.
Your proposed plant will be built in our Aquifer District and from information we've been sent, in a flood plain to boot. The toxic ash by-product will be yards from the river. Your plant will spew tons of CO2 and other harmful gasses into our already heavily polluted air.
Lastly saying that this is a renewable energy source is somewhat deceiving seeing as how it'll take 50-60 years for these forests to grow back and consume the amount of CO2 that they are now. What offsets these emissions for the next 50 years?
Bottom line Mr. Gabler........... you're a good politician; you present a beautiful water color of your plant; you skirt reality and the true facts and make idle promises that once you get in, we know you will not keep. You'll take your investor's money to get yourself here. You'll serve your time, make your money and leave and all the "babies" you kissed will be left with the fallout and the damage and an ugly plant on our beautiful river that was not sustainable. And Bill, if the town hall folks tell you to ignore the informer, it's just a few idiots, think again. This time, the informer is a small part of the picture. We cross town lines and are organized all the way to state levels not just a bunch of complaining people who blog. And you address anonymous.... anonymous is not one person. It may even include someone sitting at town hall itself who does their work as they are supposed to do while they smile at you when you come. We don't buy your politics and your flowery promises and your holding to old outdated reports on biomass. Unlike you and your buddies we actually care about the future of Winchester, the air our kids breathe, the water in our river and our water supply. We may be a poor town but there are many more of us that are not stupid. And Bill have you checked the Ashuelot River lately?? You can walk across in many places with NO water at all. When was too short staffed DES here last to check the levels?? Will you be after the town to use our water supply then??? Asking to tap our strained water supply while you pollute our air and take our wood? We have checked out a lot of our nearby forests and there are many sites already that were not cut with the future in mind and who will regulate the cuts???? I know you are offering incentives.........another promise and will you manage their cuts or just reap the rewards?
To anonymous asking about our ideas for more jobs and a better life for all ..
First off, this is a discussion on the hazards and ash-related problems the town will be facing if this proposed plant gets approved for our town.
We appreciate your question and for the sake of not ignoring you will answer in the following way.
We aren't representatives of the town's gov't, we have no control over what they do or their decisions that affect your life or your employment opportunities, past history will show you that. They don't listen to the public.
If you want more jobs and a better tax rate in this town then you need to vote for people willing to step up and make the necessary changes that will make Winchester a town for all; not just a select few who have their hands on the purse strings and make decisions based on their own personal agendas.
If you wish to have a discussion on these matters we would be glad to provide you with a forum for it; but not here in this thread.
So what can we do to stop this? I don't think we can do it individually. The town will just ignore us.
From what I have heard there is a process to stop them and it will be made known to us to work together. In the meantime let the Board of Selectmen know. Let the Planning Board know. Let the state know.....call state reps; call DES. CPD is not sitting back hoping that they have it in the bag and that all of this is just the usual complaining but no action. IF we mean business lets act.
Citizens’ Toolkit
For Stopping Commercial Biomass Burning at the Local Level
1.) Take every opportunity to publicly challenge the false assumptions touted by developers and their allies in government and the media. (Speak up at meetings, write letters to the editor, post statements on websites, print lawn signs, write posters & fliers.)
2.) Organize a local citizens campaign. (Community organizing is a learn-able set of skills. Figure out who’s good at what and divide tasks.)
3.) File legal challenges to zoning decisions, permits, etc. (Expensive, may not make the critical difference, but slows the deal down, backs up your other efforts, shows you’re serious, and provides a good story for local press.)
4.) Evenhandedly investigate and publicize relationships and transactions between developers and local pro-biomass forces. (Follow the money, also check on how town employee time spent on proposed project, check out junkets sponsored by the developer.)
5.) Be ready to run a traditional political campaign if and when the issue comes to a vote. (Make sure you can win the vote for the binding referendum or anti-biomass candidate.)
POINT NUMBER ONE IS THE MOST CRITICAL: CAREFULLY CHECK WHAT YOU’RE ENCOUNTERING LOCALLY FOR THE FOLLOWING LIES:
A: “This is a done deal, you can’t stop it” (Even thought the developer has spent months or years behind the scenes cultivating key officials, citizens have a say in decisions made by the town and state. Carefully search the town charter and all regulations for each available way decisions can be challenged.)
B: “You all can’t talk about that here” (Every small committee issue can be related to the resulting public health threat; speak up at each public meeting; explain how the issue at hand relates to the bigger issues and ask that each of the developers’ needed votes or permits be denied. If the meeting room cannot safely and comfortably accommodate all interested citizens, contact the fire department and those responsible for enforcing open meeting laws.)
C: “We know what we’re doing and you don’t” (Watch out for the guy with the charts or PowerPoint and the incomprehensible scientific drone. Also watch out for the cranky town committee chair . Experts and town officials can be challenged by sincere local citizens. Anti-biomass expert and official opinion is available and needs to be heard. )
D: “People in this town want this plant” (Not true! The plant is strongly opposed by folks near the proposed site and an increasing number of educated citizens.)
E: “Burning biomass is good for the community, the region, the planet” (The big lie! Big bucks vs. the truth! Education is the key here; thoughtfully consider the data, use common sense. The better you understand it, the better the folks you talk to get it.)
Schedule a meeting and publish it here. It might have to be held outside as so many people would come. Don't forget those opposed are not just from Winchester. As I heard the head of DES permitting process will come and present options and answer questions in a town faced with this issue. Let's call out CPD who from the start STATED that if we don't want them they will not come. Another lie or will they pack up and go elsewhere ???
To Mr. Gabler,
We don't know why you felt it was necessary to post the same comment over 20 times which resulted in them all being sent to our spam folder. As a result of your childish behavior and because they are all the same, it is impossible to release just one for publication.
Please submit your comment again and let me remind you that we moderate comments on this blog to prevent instances like this from happening and to prevent the use of foul and abusive language. Once we see a new comment on the board for moderation we release it for publication. It isn't necessary to keep submitting the same comment dozens of times, it'll be marked as spam automatically.
thank you.
It would seem that Bill choose only certain comments to answer and then only puts his spin on what he wants us to hear, never fully answering the tough questions or providing us with any written documents to back up his so-called facts. I have read the Manomet Massachusetts study and from what I read, Mr Gabler's "facts" don't add up. The real reasons behind building such a small plant, not medium sized as he claims, is to get around strict EPA standards for larger plants. You see the EPA still relies on old data from these wood burning plants that consider forests a renewable source of energy, thus a viable trade off. In fact the EPA doesn't even monitor these plants, they monitor and submit data themselves; ONLY if they feel like it! However new data and studies show that even if the trees removed were replaced by a fast growing species, it would still take 20-30 years for them to grow and absorb all of the carbon that is being absorbed now. So for 20-30 years, greenhouse gasses escape these plant, pollute the air we breath and contribute to more global warming.
The study also states that small plants like this one will emit tons of particulates daily which is hazardous to your health as they consist of many different chemicals, all of which are harmful. Contrary to what Bill states about plant filters, there currently are none like he describes that work on these small plants.
Bill's claims that this plant will be highly efficient is another myth, the study provides graphs of their findings and 20MW plants like this proposed one is less than 30% when burning just greenwood alone and thanks to the Informer's diligence uncovering the ash-related problems this will be a major source of pollution and health risks.
This plant will be somewhat like the highly fined one in Concord, that has as we have seen tons of problems. Do we really want to trade jobs for problems like they have had in Concord?
You can read the real facts for yourselves, just Google Manomet study and see for yourselves how much misinformation Bill has been handing out.
Bill must be awful worried if he' behaving like that. What's the matter Billy, the truth beginning to hurt and tarnish that shiney image of yours. We aren't as stupid or as naive as you've probably been told by a few of the selfish egotistical people you have met at town hall, we're wise to you and what they are trying to pull to benefit themselves and if this continues there's going to be one hell of a fight. Take your plant someplace else, we don't need it and don't want it.
I'm tired of trying to save the world, and this town, I'm going to start looking out for ME. I will be voting for the plant, I think it will benefit the town.
What vote? I thought this was already a done deal. BOS approved it and its now at the planning board.
I don't recall anyone mentioning a vote.
I vote NO!
I have been reading that report prepared for Massachusetts and I gotta say it provides lots of facts to poke holes in Mr. Gayler's claims and his presentation. I would suggest everyone who has concerns and those of you who blindly support this project do the same and I thank the Informer and others for their efforts to protect the town's people from something that could be so detrimental to our well being and the people of neighboring towns to the east.
Seems Pinocchio has left the building. Bet he and his group of town hall supporters are working overtime behind the scenes to get this project rammed down our throats. Rumor has it that the Beamans are all upset over the fact a certain family member who now owns the land doesn't want to sell to CPD and they are pressuring her to do it. There's a lot more to this "deal" than meets the eye, I hope the Informer(s) can get the real scoop and let us in on all the backroom dealings going on.
Interesting a member of the Beaman clan with a conscious. Perhaps that person understands the bigger picture and is not out to destroy the town for selfish reasons i.e. money.It will be interesting to see if the person prevails.
I noticed that Beamans are not the only ones doing "green" properties.
Please everyone who can...........chip away at providing facts to the town; reveal the behind the scenes actions to the informer and help convince those who so far will not listen in the town hall that this is a horrible thing for us. I heard over the weekend that the state is realizing that biomass is NOT good for the state and is definitely on to CPD. IF we stick together, we will send CPD packing and maybe even those involved who are ignoring the damaging facts for the town so that they can reap their own personal reward.
Someone has said that Mr. Gabler has lost his position as the lead for this project. Looks like he opened his mouth and stuck his foot in it. He should have realized despite what he was told by the village idiots, that many intelligent people would see through his smoke screen ( pun intended ) and be wise to what's really going on here. Sharra's attempt to slam this project through hopefully will backfire on her and more people will become the wiser to her reasons for doing the things she does. It's time we all take a stand together and clean up our town.
Post a Comment