Activity Report Explorer

Cascade Volcanoes • Entered by Barb Fox-Kilgore on May 26, 2024

BIOMASS Meeting

May 22, 2024 – May 22, 2024

Key Issue: Climate Change
Activity Type: Advocacy (rallies, lobbying, meeting decision makers, letters/calls/emails)
Key Partners: Washington Conservation Action

Measurable Outcomes

Outcome 1: Event Attendees (13 people)

Short Description of Activity

Heidi Cody SW Washington Community Organizer for the Washington Conservation Action facilitated a community meeting to address the pending Biomass plant to be built in the Longview Wa area. It was the fifth community meeting at Lower Columbia College to discuss how Cowlitz County residents can continue to collaborate and work toward a future with a sustainable economy, improved environmental health, and better governance.
A British company called Drax is proposing a wood pellet factory next to the Port of Longview, which would produce 490,000 tons of wood pellets per year and cause significant air pollution. SW Washington Clean Air Agency (SWCAA) is the permitting agency. They have also targeted Hoquiam Washington, Oakridge Oregon, and two towns in Northern California.
Some basics about Drax Longview are below.
Wood pellets made in Longview would be exported to Asia for industrial-scale energy usage.
Drax has been fined $ millions in Louisiana and Mississippi for emitting 2-3 x as much pollution as allowed.
This additional air pollution will have air quality and health impacts in Cowlitz County.
Longview’s airshed blows into Vancouver and Portland.
More than 200 trucks a day will haul in raw materials and remove finished pellets for export.

Drax has ruined forests in the SE US. They claim they will use “aftermarket” materials, sawdust, etc. They also use whole trees to make wood pellets–including old growth forests (see the last page of talking points).
This will be a threat to old growth forests
This wood pellet facility will use four hammermills, each as loud as a train horn (100dB), operating around the clock.
Public comments were submitted.
Sign on Letter was submitted.

Reflection/Evaluation

Another threat to forest health in the PNW and the importance of educating and making the public aware of the long-term consequences of allowing a foreign company to strip local resources and ship abroad.
This matter coincides with the Broad work in protecting old growth and mature trees in the preservation of forest health and carbon storage.
Sadly, it always comes down to corporate money and profits. The DRAX company is heavily subsidized by the British government.
Europe is pressured to be off of fossil fuels and the Paris Climate accord has classified Biomass as carbon neutral fuel to justified use to run manufacturing plants. The Farm Bill to be passed in this country has also reclassified it as a carbon neutral source.