The report is full of contradictions.
It argues for increased localized burning of wood for heat, which typically contributes many more pollutants and contaminants to the environment than a state-of-the-art biomass facility. Burning wood for heat is limited and short-sighted. Electricity can be used for almost any power requirement.
It argues against increased competition and higher prices for low grade fiber. Low prices for wood products is probably the single biggest threat to the forests. Low prices encourage land owners to seek other more profitable uses for their land, like farming and building, which of course requires clear-cutting the land and eliminating the forest. Higher prices for low-grade wood would encourage land-owners to maintain sustainable forests on their land.
It tries to include all proposed plants, regardless of their approval status, financing, or chances of success. If every proposed plant considered every other proposed plant, nothing would ever be approved.
It argues for continuing to export wood to Canada. Now that makes sense. Let's do nothing for the NH economy so that we can continue to send wood to Canada so they can turn it into energy and sell it back to us at a higher price. It's no wonder companies continue to locate outside the US.
The Wilderness Society did a poor job with this one.
