WOOD PELLETS AS ENERGY: THE BIOMASS

​INDUSTRY

Wood pellets, in the biomass industry have found a much increased production. Wood pellet plants are located all around the world and are producing significant amounts of wood pellets. Because the EPA has classified as renewable energy along with solar and wind power, few people know about the harm that is as a result being caused to the environment. Let me make this clear, due to flawed accounting in international agreements wood pellet factories are on the rise. 

Wood pellets have numerous side effects:
- The wood pellet material sourcing leads to massive amount of deforestation and disturbs critical habitats. 
- Burning wood pellets release 65% more CO2 compared to coal per megawatt hour.
- Pellet facilities release dangerous air pollutants including particulate matter and organic compounds. 
- People who live near wood pellet plants suffer numerous health hazards. 

More plants continue to be built each year. They might be "renewable" but in order for this process to occur there are many more negative benefits compared to positive. Currently, Enviva® is the largest pellet producer in the world. They do not care about the people and environment's safety, this entire setup is for economic profit. This is something we can control and change. 

Go to the Dogwood Alliance to learn more: 
https://www.dogwoodalliance.org/2020/03/no-more-wood-pellet-plants-in-nc/ 

HERE is a trailer of the moved BURNED: Are Trees the New Coal?
BURNED is a very good movie to learn about the wood pellet industry from peoples' perspectives. 

Information courtesy of the Rachel Carson Council. Courtesy of the Global Forest Coalition et al.
Image of wood pellet plants in North Carolina. Courtesy of Communities Against Wood Pellets *Please note there are more wood pellet plants pending and awaiting construction.
The recorded information session from the Zoom Webinars on this topic is below:

Coastal living threatened: sea

level rise


   Due to rising sea levels, for many places in North Carolina coastal living is being threatened. You may be wondering how come sea levels are rising. Well global warming, a worldwide problem, contributes to our polar ice caps melting which in turn lead to more water being deposited in the ocean. In simpler words, there is less ice at the ice caps and more water in the ocean because of global warming. Since 1880, average see levels have swelled over eight inches. If this problem continues for more years, many coastal buildings (such as houses, hotels, and apartments) may become constantly flooded and potentially could also drown. This is an issue that many coastal residents need to watch out for. Effective planning for this problem may include evacuating a little further from the beach. Although this is not a major problem currently, it will continue to become a bigger problem as time goes on and sea levels continue to rise. 
Courtesy to Vox (left) and WUNC (right)

Carolina chemical contaminants:

PFAS

      North Carolina in the past and currently has many problems with chemicals. Large corporations are constantly trying to take over and use the nature for their economic benefit. PFAS, a family of man-made chemicals, have been a big concern in North Carolina. These chemicals, including GenX do not break down and often accumulate in the human body. PFAS can greatly harm human health which is the reason the EPA has set a health advisory for them in our drinking water. This is a major issue as not only are our waters, rivers, and oceans being impacted but this is terribly impacting our health. We can change this issue by protesting against PFAS, being cautious of what products contain the chemicals, and even sharing the knowledge with others and having them join in causes against PFAS. 
Information courtesy of the News and Observer.

Saving the seagrass

Did you know that seagrasses are one of North Carolina's most valuable and fragile aquatic resources? Anyway, you still might be wondering what is seagrass. They are basically underwater grasses that grow underwater instead on the land. Seagrass plays a important role in our North Carolina ecosystem. A single acre of it can support 40,000 fish and 50 million other small invertebrates. In addition, to providing habitat for aquatic life these underground meadows also improve water quality by absorbing excess nutrients and releasing oxygen. Seagrass can also prevent erosion of the shorelines and their root can improve water clarity. North Carolina has had many times when the seagrass count has gone so low that even the aquatic life suffered horribly. Going in the future, the fate of seagrass is uncertain. Although much of it is currently recovering due to good care and protection, the seagrass population could perish in the future. Want to learn more about seagrass? There are many resources including the internet that can tell you how you can chip in and take action. 
Information courtesy of Albermarle-Pamlico National Estuary Partnership
Courtesy of Frontiers (middle), Mother Jones (left), and Smithsonian Ocean (right)
Courtesy of National Geographic

Southeastern offshore drilling

       Oil drilling is an issue that is initiated due to economic profit. Oil is searched for not just in North Carolina but also throughout the world. It is a fossil fuel that can be used as energy for many things. Southeastern NC has become a major place for oil drilling. Important people such as the governors are not too concerned about this idea but many cities near the sites are. In North Carolina, oil drilling has numerous negative impacts. 

Examples include:
- Wild habitat disruption
- Oil spills can be deadly for wildlife
- Pollution hurts local communities
- Oil extraction turns visitors away
- Oil drilling ruins pristine landscapes
- Emissions contribute to climate change

These are just some of the impacts oil drilling as on the environment. Is it worth it to harm the environment this much merely for monetary benefit? In my opinion, it is surely not. This is just another environmental obstacle in North Carolina. Want to learn more about the issue? Click here.

Information courtesy of the Charlotte Observer and the Wilderness Society

erosion of the shores

Shore erosion in North Carolina, similarly to the other issues, continues to be a very big problem. Believe it or not but sea level rise is also a major cause of shore erosion. 15% of North Carolina's shoreline is critically eroding, according to the report "State Coastal Program Effectiveness in Protecting Natural Beaches, Dunes, Bluffs, and Rock Shores". 65% of the southern shores have been eroding at the highest rate which is approximately 11.5 ft/year. Shore erosion causes many problems such as loss of land and severe damage to coastal infrastructure. Erosion is an unavoidable problem that has to have action taken about immediately. Ways to prevent more shore erosion includes having vegetation, seawalls, sand fences, and sand dunes. 

To read more on this issue and to also take action read this:
https://nwdistrict.ifas.ufl.edu/nat/2017/08/25/coastal-erosion-a-problem-with-new-solutions/ 
Information courtesy of Beachapedia and the University of Florida

Down with duke energy; the

industrial ​reign of north carolina

Duke Energy is a big corporation that has always heavily relied on coal, natural gas, and nuclear power. All of these are hazardous to public safety. The production, transport, and burning of natural gas all emit methane; something much more potent compared to carbon dioxide. Duke Energy has failed to invest in effective energy-storing methods; instead they have been trying to seek many regulators approval on "grid modernization" where most of the cost gets transferred to customers. Anyway, let me get back to the environmental related stats. 

Throughout the nation, coal plants generate more than 100 million tons of coal ash each year. This is filled with toxic elements such as mercury, cadmium, and arsenic. Merely in North Carolina, Duke Energy stores 110 million tons of coal ash in unlined pits. Duke Energy has had many nuclear problems as well. From 2007 to 2010, all but two of Duke's plants reported tritium leaks include a 100,000 gallon spill at the McGuire plant which happens to be in North Carolina. Overall, Duke Energy has been causing many health and environmental problems for the people of North Carolina. For big corporations like these, always be on the lookout for what they are trying to do to your area. 

Information courtesy of EWG: Next Level Energy

HOG FARMS AND THEIR RESULTING

PROBLEMS

    In the state of North Carolina, hog farms are a major problem. In fact, North Carolina has one of the largest hog industries in the entire country. There are many health problems associated with hog farms which include infant mortality, anemia, kidney disease, septicemia, and tuberculosis. Hog farms also bring numerous environmental issues. The biggest environmental problem related to hog farms is nitrogen runoff. There is also a problem with overflowing hog lagoons leading to potentially fatal contamination of water sources. These overflowing hog lagoons creates large-scale injustice for the people living close to these lagoons. Based on where your water supply is coming from it could be impacting you! Policy-makers have a major say in the future direction of hog farms. Although there is a major likelihood the hog industry will continue, more sustainable methods of hog farming, such as pastured hog farming, are promising (Scalawag Magazine). The most effective form of action on this issue would be to call or meet in-person with your local policy-makers.

Deeper overview on hog farming with its setbacks (source used): HERE


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