PGAQ #62 by Vic Steblin, Dec 12, 2008

2570 Laurier Crescent, Prince George, BC, 250-564-1123

Prince George became an economic powerhouse over Ray Williston’s 1960’s idea that wood waste could become pulp. A similar brainwave has hit current government and economic leaders. The idea is that wood waste can become pellets and bioenergy.

Pulp creates jobs and then some of it gets eventually flushed into sewers and into oceans. Pellets create jobs and are used to heat homes. The smoke gets eventually flushed into the atmosphere.

The side effects of pulp mills are the health hazards of living nearby and breathing in fine particles. The side effects of pellet stoves are the health hazards of living nearby and breathing in the fine particles.

Maybe the wood in the bush is not wasted if it is left to rot. It becomes soil in a natural long cycle of rejuvenation. Maybe government and business leaders should not move so fast on this so-called opportunity. Maybe some experts should consider the long term cons as well as the short term pros. There should be more health studies of the manufacturing and use of pellets. Maybe the wood going to soil is not really wasted and is a wiser use of resources.