Am I understanding this pollution issue correctly?
An estimated $8-million community biomass energy project that is meant to reduce greenhouse gas emissions in Prince George, but will add one tonne of fine dust and ash to the air shed
Is that one tonne over the period of one year? It would appear that it is:
However, in a five-page briefing note, prepared to answer questions from The Citizen, the city indicated the plant will be using the best-available air pollution technology, an electrostatic precipitator, which removes fine dust and ash. That will keep the amount of fine particulates pumped each year into the airshed below one tonne.
This pales in comparison to:
"I look at this from the big perspective too, it's important to make sure there's a net decrease but our real challenge is still with the big ones. Some of the mills are working at one tonne per day, so, we've got a ways to go," he said.
One tonne in a year vs. the mills contributing one tonne in a day?
Also:
City staff are researching ways to offset the one-tonne increase in fine particulates. The options include becoming involved in a wood stove exchange program that would help reduce fine particulates, and working with B.C. Transit to find efficiencies. Another idea is to allow land-clearing debris to be brought to the central plant for disposal for free. Open burning would create more fine dust and ash than the heating plant.
I assume open burning is how disposal is currently done?
I don't understand why this is being considered a problem. I guess the air quality is so bad that any additional problem is considered "big."
techisbest
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