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March 6, 2015
Washington Post Editorial Board Slams Biomass Energy, Ignores Forestry Research & Economics
On March 5, the Washington Post published an editorial entitled ‘the EPA’s not so-green emissions plan,’ in which the editorial board claim that the agencies’ plans to regulate biomass wastes as renewable power sources under the Clean Power Plan (CPP) will “sharply increase forest clearing.” The Post goes on to state that “giving biomass too much credit would encourage a lot of wood burning,” claiming that the CPP could result in 70 percent of the current US timber harvest being used for bioenergy, resulting in increased worldwide timber demand. The Post’s claims are not backed up by forestry economics and science. Additionally, providing an economic incentive to maintain forested lands, as bioenergy and long-lived timber products do, can also help to preserve forests and farms in the face of rampant exurban development.
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Events:
The “Bottom Line” on Investment Needs For Our Transportation System
Tuesday, March 10 4:00 pm - 5:00 pm
334 Cannon House Office Building 27 Independence Avenue Southeast
Free and open to the public
Please RSVP to expedite check-in.
The Environmental and Energy Study Institute (EESI) and the American Public Transportation Association (APTA), in conjunction with the American Association of State Highway and Transportation Officials (AASHTO), invite you to a briefing on the investment requirements for America's multi-modal transportation infrastructure. The recent AASHTO-APTA Bottom Line report estimates that $163 billion is needed annually over six years to fix the nation’s aging surface transportation system ($120 billion for roads and bridges, and $43 billion for transit). At present, public investment in transportation infrastructure is only $100 billion a year ($83 billion for roads and bridges, and $17 billion for transit). With the looming May expiration of the transportation bill, Moving Ahead for Progress in the 21st Century (MAP-21), and with 70 million new U.S. citizens expected by 2050, now is the time to address these investment needs.
Visit http://www.eesi.org/briefings/view/031015trans for more information.
Making Buildings More Energy Efficient: The Building Technologies Office’s 2016 Budget Request
Thursday, March 12 2:00 pm - 3:30 pm
210 Cannon House Office Building Independence Avenue SE and 1st Street, SE
The Environmental and Energy Study Institute (EESI) invites you to a briefing on the programs and priorities of the Department of Energy's Building Technologies Office (BTO), as reflected in its FY 2016 budget request. Why is DOE involved in researching and developing building technologies? Buildings represent 40 percent of the total energy used in the United States and a whopping 70 percent of the electricity used (for lighting, air-conditioning, appliances, electronics). Making buildings and the products that go into them more energy efficient will make a serious dent in U.S. energy use, save billions of dollars each year, improve comfort, and reduce pollution and greenhouse gas emissions. BTO is seeking to reduce U.S. building energy consumption by 50 percent from a 2010 baseline.
Visit http://www.eesi.org/briefings/view/031215buildingsbudget for more information.
To Contact the Editor: Jessie Stolark at [email protected]
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