Common sense decision for renewable energy

The Australian Forest Products Association (AFPA) has welcomed a decision by New South Wales independent MPs Rob Oakeshott and Tony Windsor to pass a motion to disallow recent regulations that ban native forest wood waste for renewable energy.
‘The science is very clear regarding the carbon neutrality of sustainably grown biomass and this ban would have discriminated against local businesses using this material compared to other forms of renewable energy and with overseas suppliers, who have favourable incentives for bioenergy’, said AFPA chief executive David Pollard.
‘Rob Oakeshott has listened to the concerns of the forest industry in his own electorate and nationally, given the widespread ramifications of the proposed ban and perverse outcomes for reducing carbon emissions.
The proposed ban under the Renewable Energy Target (RET) scheme would have removed incentives for wood processors to better utilise their wood waste for renewable energy outcomes. Alternatives might be to simply burn the waste or dispose of it in landfill for no additional energy gain.
Previous regulations had recognised this wood waste for renewable energy – defined as a by-product of harvesting operations for other commercial products such as high value timber and paper.
‘This is a common sense decision that is good for the renewable forest based industries, good for regional development and good for a cleaner emissions future’, Dr Pollard said.
‘Australia lags the rest of the world in the use of wood biomass for renewable energy and this decision supports the better utilisation of an otherwise wasted resource for renewable energy. This resource includes such material as sawdust, shavings and timber offcuts from routine milling operations.
The Victorian Association of Forest Industries (VAFI) has also welcomed the decision by Oakeshott and Windsor to pass a motion to disallow regulations that would reduce investment in renewable energy using waste wood.
VAFI CEO Lisa Marty said these regulations, part of the Federal Government’s carbon tax policies, were biased against one type of renewable energy, and had the potential to kill off investment in rural and regional Victoria.
“Bioenergy powered by waste wood is a renewable source of energy that can provide heat and electricity to Victorian homes at efficiencies of up to 90 percent,” Ms Marty said.
“This is particularly significant for regional and remote communities located near productive forests, but a significant distance from other base load power generators.”
The United Nations Food and Agriculture Organisation stated the use of wood for bioenergy and products may be one of the most effective ways to achieve “sustainable reductions of CO2 emissions through land-based activities.”
This was acknowledged in the Federal Government’s original Carbon Pollution Reduction Scheme, which granted biomass a zero emissions rating.
VAFI is the peak body for the Victorian forest and wood products industry, which directly employs 24,000 people and indirectly supports a further 42-52,000 jobs.