UK Troll science

[Locutus]

We missed this story in May, but in order to replace the use of coal in the UK, power stations are being refitted to burn wood chips. But the UK doesn’t have enough forests to supply the wood chips, (biofuel) so…

Wait for it…

Wait…

Yup, power companies in the UK are planning on purchasing timber in the United States to be converted to wood chips to be shipped across the Atlantic to burn in the previously coal-fired power plants.

From the BBC

Swamp forests in the US are being felled to help keep the lights on in the UK. Is this really the best way to combat climate change?

Environmentalists are trying to block the expansion of a transatlantic trade bringing American wood to burn in European power stations.

The trade is driven by EU rules promoting renewable energy to combat climate change.

Many millions of tonnes of wood pellets will soon be shipped annually to help keep the lights on in the UK. Other EU nations may follow.

Critics say subsidising wood burning wastes money, does nothing to tackle climate change in the short term, and is wrecking some of the finest forests in the US.
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The insanity of this is difficult for me to put in perspective, but it seems comparable to shining spotlights on solar collectors.


Read the full BBC story here.


http://wattsupwiththat.com/2013/08/06/law-of-unintended-consequences-number-eleventy-zillion/

 

[Goober]

Also Pine trees from Canada that have been made useless by the pine beetle are also being shipped.

 

[petros]

Also Pine trees from Canada that have been made useless by the pine beetle are also being shipped.

Useless? The only reason the beetle attacked those trees is because they were weak from soil depletion thanks to protection from fire and now shipping off the material to make healthy soil is going to eliminate any chance of the forest re-growing.