REA hits back at NGOs’ biomass ‘Pseudo-Science’
The Renewable Energy Association, whose members include both large and small biomass developers and suppliers, has taken the unusual step of publishing a private letter sent last month to the heads of three green campaign groups, appealing to them to review their strategy of “promoting … misinformation” and “deliberately facilitating confusion” about biomass among the general public.
The Renewable Energy Association, whose members include both large and small biomass developers and suppliers, has taken the unusual step of publishing a private letter sent last month to the heads of three green campaign groups, appealing to them to review their strategy of “promoting … misinformation” and “deliberately facilitating confusion” about biomass among the general public.
The letter, sent by Gaynor Hartnell, Chief Executive of the Renewable Energy Association requests a meeting to initiate “positive dialogue” between industry and campaigners, rather than propaganda tactics. A date is yet to be agreed.
Instead, in a letter to The Times newspaper published yesterday, the heads of Greenpeace, RSPB and Friends of the Earth joined with the wood panel industrial lobby to claim extra demand for wood was impacting both wood products industries and environmental sustainability.
Industry leaders have poured cold water on the claims. Through new Government Sustainability Criteria and revenues for forest owners, bioenergy is delivering increases in active forestry management, wood supply and major carbon emissions reductions around the world.
Gaynor Hartnell, Chief Executive of the Renewable Energy Association, added:
“I’ve fought battles alongside these NGOs for 18 years to promote renewable energy and combat climate change. I’m extremely disappointed to see organisations of this stature peddling pseudo-science that they must know doesn’t represent the real world of solid biomass supply.
“The UK’s energy consumers need to know the facts. They are facing rising bills, a need to decarbonise the economy and an impending shortfall in electricity generating capacity . We only have a few options that can provide cost-competitive, baseload renewable power, and are rapidly deployable. It’s time these NGOs told the truth and started to live in the real world.”
