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Friend, We're now only two months away from the election, so most emails will be "political": talking about events (like the campaign meet+greet TONIGHT at the Chico Democratic HQ at 5 pm!)
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However, the goal of being elected is to enact positive policy change! Let's not forget what we're fighting FOR.
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So, on that note, let's talk forestry. Specifically, using biomass for energy. Also, this is a rather long email -- so if you're not interested in forest policy, feel free to stop reading.
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The New York Times had a great article yesterday on logging in Europe's old-growth forests. Put simply: Europe is facing an energy crunch due to the Russian-Ukrainian war, and eastern European countries are cutting trees to convert to pellets for use in western European countries for power.
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There are a couple of points here:
1.) Wood pellets are a good source of power, and easy to ship long distance
2.) Europe shouldn't be cutting down old growth forests to grind into pellets.
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But while Europe doesn't have a lot of excess biomass (trees and brush) in its forests, California does! One of the legacies of clear-cutting is that the next generation of trees come in much denser (300-400 trees per acre) than a "natural" forest (around 100 trees per acre). Without older trees "shading out" their competitors, every tree grows at the same time and rate. That overcrowding is one of the reasons California forests are so vulnerable to climate change and fire. Fixing California's forests will require thinning, and demand for wood pellets in Europe means that there is a market for that fuel.?
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Sending wood pellets to Europe will make Californian forests healthier, reduce fire risk, AND help Europeans survive the cut in Russian natural gas.
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To that end, the government should be subsidizing and encouraging the construction of biomass facilities throughout the North State to convert more wood into pellets for export. At the same time, the US Forest Service needs a long term, sustainable thinning plan that will supply these plants while protecting the essential character and long-term health of our national forests.
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Energy security is national security, and our forests are a key part of the solution. Increasing biomass pellet production here in the North State would be a win for our forests that need thinning and a win for European forests that need protection. It's also a win for our rural communities threatened by fire, and a win for Europe facing real energy insecurity.
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There's a real opportunity here, we just need a Congressman who will step up and lead, rather than sit back and complain like Doug LaMalfa.
We have a chance to bring some innovative ideas to the North State by ousting Doug LaMalfa. If you're with me, chip in a donation to support my campaign. ? Thank you,? ? Max |
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