Editor:
Bette Shippam’s recent letter regarding Merritt Green Energy contained a number of statements that require correction.
Let’s start with the most important facts: Merritt Green Energy will substantially reduce the burning of roadside wood waste and the emissions that drift into Merritt as a result. It will create 80 new jobs during construction and 16 full-time jobs during operations. It will purchase goods and services from businesses in the community. It will contribute roughly $300,000 annually to Merritt in local property taxes. It will create new economic opportunities for First Nations. And, importantly, it will help secure the future of local forestry and sawmilling jobs.
Merritt Green Energy has made significant investments in environmental protection equipment so that the people of Merritt can be assured that they are getting the maximum economic benefit from this project while seeing its environmental footprint carefully managed.
The question of air quality, for instance, is vitally important to all of us. When considering the benefits of Merritt Green Energy, these facts are important to bear in mind:
? Merritt Green Energy will eliminate open burning of approximately 118,000 dry tonnes per year of roadside logging wood waste and the regional air pollution this creates.
? The electricity generated by Merritt Green Energy (enough to power 29,000 homes) will qualify as BC Clean Electricity. Contrary to some of the misinformation out there, we will not be burning fossil fuels, garbage or medical waste. Carbon dioxide emissions will be carbon neutral, because the bioenergy is created only from the leftovers of sustainable forests, and nothing else.
? Emissions from our facility will be minimized and controlled through state-of-the-art technology. First, a computerized boiler control system will achieve highly efficient combustion. Secondly, high efficiency pollution control equipment will remove particulate matter before gases are discharged from the stack to meet a stringent air permit limit set by the Province that will be subject to annual compliance testing.
? As a result, the particulate matter emissions per tonne of dry wood burned from Merritt Green Energy will be less than four percent of an advanced woodstove.
The issues of dust generation, noise, traffic and water use have also been raised and again, let us be clear on the facts. Dust generation will be minimized by enclosing all fibre storage and conveyor systems and by paving the entire site. These enclosures also act to minimize noise from the facility. There will be no net increase in truck traffic as trucks bringing forest debris into the plant will be offset by trucks no longer taking sawmill residuals out of town.
Water consumption will be low (similar to two or three garden hoses) because air cooling will be used to condense the steam recovered after power generation so that the water can be recycled.
The wood ash that Merritt Green Energy will create in the process of making clean electricity will be put to good use, such as an additive in ready-mix concrete and as a natural lime for mine reclamations and farming.
Finally, we will be establishing an economic sustainability fund of $150,000, to be administered by the community and invested in programs that act to reduce air emissions, dust, or water consumption in the valley.
In conclusion, Merritt Green Energy is working very closely with the community, local business, First Nations, and government at all levels. Together, we will ensure that our new facility is a major plus for the local and regional economy and for the environment, as well.
Fred Scott P.Eng.
Western BioEnergy
