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Comment 18 for 2013 Investment Plan for Cap-and-Trade Auction Proceeds (2013investmentpln-ws) - 1st Workshop.
First Name: Chip
Last Name: Ashley
Email Address: wattsvalleypreservation@gmail.com
Affiliation:
Subject: Biomass Pyrolysis Provides Carbon-Negative Energy
Comment:
Some of the auction proceeds should go to developing small scale biomass pyrolysis plants (up to 3 megawatts generation capacity)and biodigesters wherever green waste streams are available. Biodigestion creates renewable natural gas and adds no net carbon to the atmosphere. Biomass pyrolysis creates renewable natural gas and other useful byproducts and is carbon-negative. Pyrolysis is carbon-negative because it produces biochar (a form of charcoal) that is an excellent soil amendment for carbon depleted soils. Biochar is at least 80% pure carbon and is resistant to oxidation. Thus, when added to soil it is a form of carbon sequestration. Carbon neutral and carbon-negative technologies offer a means of replacing carbon-positive fuels like coal and fossil natural gas. Thus they have obvious benefits in designing an economy that has a goal of reducing greenhouse gases. These technologies would provide co-benefits to low-income communities in agricultural areas and communities tied to forestry economies that have been impacted by reduction in timber harvest in recent years. Agricultural economies, like that in the Central Valley, would benefit by producing carbon-neutral or -negative fuel that can be used in both transportation and electrical generation. Agricultural residues can provide vast quantities of fuel stock for these plants. Small scale plants would add new jobs and diversification to the Central Valley economy. California's forest contain a huge glut of small-diameter timber that currently impacts these forests' resiliency against wildfire. Wildfire adds large amounts of GHG to the atmosphere. Instead of being potential kindling for the next stand-replacing wildfire, these small trees can be removed and used as fuel to make carbon-negative fuel for transportation and electrical generation.
Attachment: www.arb.ca.gov/lists/2013investmentpln-ws/25-biomass_pyrolysis_and_biodigestion.zip
Original File Name: Biomass Pyrolysis and Biodigestion.zip
Date and Time Comment Was Submitted: 2013-02-22 08:22:06
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