Greenfield Recorder – Lloyd Crawford: Rural wood heating strengthens rural economies and self-reliance

A pile of firewood is waiting to be split.
PERSONAL FILE PHOTO/PAUL FRANZ

In response to Katy Eiseman's column [“Must stop subsidizing wood-fired energy,” Recorder, April 5]I agree that burning wood actually releases toxic compounds that are harmful to human health. I also believe that large-scale burning of wood to generate electricity is unsustainable and should not be encouraged.

However, from a policy perspective, all types of biomass fuel consumption are increasingly being lumped together. Wood is a niche fuel and may only be suitable for use as heating fuel in sparsely populated areas.

Let's not forget that people in northern climates have been warming themselves by burning wood since the dawn of civilization. Today's wood burning devices are the cleanest and most efficient in the history of our species.

While burning wood produces more CO2 compared to burning fossil fuels, when trees die and decompose, all of the carbon naturally returns to the atmosphere as CO2. Carbon contained in unburned fossil fuels that are replaced by wood heat remains safely stored underground. Given the impact of climate change and exotic pests and diseases on forest health, it is doubtful to rely on local forests to store carbon for long periods of time.

A piece of firewood is essentially a battery that stores solar energy in the summer for use in the winter. Currently there is no technology to achieve the same.

Rural wood heating strengthens the economy and the independence of rural areas. I give thanks for a supply chain so short that I can see both ends of it out the window from my kitchen table.

Maybe we shouldn't incentivize the use of wood for energy. Perhaps environmental justice tax dollars from rural communities should also be diverted from subsidizing energy sources that make no sense to them to addressing other pressing needs unique to those communities.

Lloyd Crawford

Hawley