Excerpt from:
HSU forestry to participate in biomass project
Humboldt State University's forestry department received a $500,000 grant to participate in a project that will determine if slash and other waste from harvesting trees can be used as an energy-efficient source of fuel. HSU forestry to participate in biomass project
HSU will partner with Green Diamond Resource Co. in Korbel, the University of Montana, Washington State University, the Coquille Indian Tribe of Oregon and other agencies in the project, which will be funded by a $5.3 million federal research and development grant. Part of the research will be conducted on land owned by Green Diamond in California.
According to HSU spokesman Paul Mann, the project will consist of determining if converting slash and biomass waste to biofuel could revive rural economies that were dependent on the timber industry. Project researchers also hope that it would reduce the risk of wildfire.
The biomass project is one of eight nationwide funded by $42 million in federal research and development grants. These projects are part of the Obama administration's drive to curb reliance on imported oil, cut greenhouse gas emissions and increase economic development in rural areas.
Link to complete article:
http://www.times-standard.com/localnews/ci_18103305
$42 million... to determine if "converting slash and biomass waste to biofuel could revive rural economies that were dependent on the timber industry."
ReplyDeleteWow. Kind of makes my head spin around on my shoulders, in a really bad way.
How many American college students might receive an education with $42 million federal dollars?
How many affordable houses might we build for the homeless with $42 million federal dollars?
How many small business might be helped with $42 million federal dollars?
How many of the 50 million citizens (one-sixth of the population of our country) who are uninsured might we provide healthcare for with $42 million federal dollars?
I cannot imagine what in God's name will be purchased for benefit of the citizens of the United States of America with these $42 million federal dollars. Rather, I suggest the $42 million dollars are just going to disappear, like the billions of dollars that just "disappeared" in Iraq...
I do know there are a whole lot of things it could buy that would be of greater benefit than a study of how depressed rural economies, once dependent on the now dying timber industry, can be revived by converting slash into "biofuel."
If this is how our government plans to save us from our dependence on fossil fuels and foreign oil, by poisoning the populations in these depressed rural communities through the process of turning slash into energy, especially since many of these "depressed rural communities" are occupied by people without benefit of health care, we are doomed.
If this is all the imagination that the leaders of government and industry in America have, we are doomed.
Slash to biofuel gonna save the country; I don't think so.
Thank God we only have one more day before being beamed up outta this mess. See you all on the other side.
ReplyDeleteYEAH!!!
ReplyDeleteI can HArdly wait!!!