[Huon Forests] URGENT: opportunity to let Kevin Rudd know that Australians say NO TO FOREST FURNACE POWER STATIONS

[jenny weber]

Hi all,

Please find pasted below an urgent message regarding the inclusion of
wood waste in the list of renewable energy sources under the Federal
Governments MRET legislation. Please distribute this message through
all and any lists you have, post on facebook etc etc! It would be
great if Kevin Rudd received a barrage of emails on this point right
now!
All the best
Will Mooney
Huon Valley Environment Centre
.............................................................................................

URGENT: opportunity to let Kevin Rudd know that Australians say NO TO
FOREST FURNACE POWER STATIONS

Burning wood for electricity generation and biofuels represents the
single greatest threat to our precious native forest ecosystems, in
the wake of the industry crisis which has seen export woodchipping
decline.

This week there is a great opportunity to help rule out this threat.

Forest agencies and companies are trying to secure taxpayer subsidies
to establish huge new wood burning power stations across Australia
that would consume millions of tonnes of native forest every year.
They are able to do this because the Australian Government's flawed
MRET legislation includes "wood waste" in the list of renewable energy
sources alongside real renewables like wind and solar.

This week, the Senate will debate aspects of the MRET legislation and
Greens Senator Christine Milne will move an amendment to have "wood
waste" removed from the list of eligible fuel sources.

Support her call to have this crucial change made to MRET. Please use
the template email below to send a message to Prime Minister Kevin
Rudd. You can send a message to Mr Rudd by opening this page:
http://www.pm.gov.au/PM_Connect/contact_your_pm_form

You need to send your message before this coming Tuesday, 15th June.

Tasmanian residents can also sign the petition against wood fired power at:
http://210.8.42.131/view/EPetitions_TAS_Assembly/CurrentEPetition.aspx?PetNum=17&lIndex=-1

Dear Mr Rudd,

I am shocked to learn that the Australian Government's MRET
legislation includes polluting and environmentally damaging "wood
waste" from native forests as an eligible fuel source alongside real
renewables like wind and solar.

Forestry companies and State agencies are promoting large scale wood
fired power stations that would see millions of tonnes of precious
native forest burnt to generate relatively small amounts of energy. In
Tasmania, Forestry Tasmania plans to burn old growth forests in the
proposed Southwood mill.

In an era of climate change it is absurd for the Australian Government
to be subsidising the burning of native forests, our most valuable
carbon stores.

Wood fired power stations represent a huge threat to Australian
communities and the Environment because:

-They release vast emissions of carbon and greenhouse gases, unlike
real renewables. Burning wood releases huge CO2 emissions which are
not re-captured by growing forests for decades or even centuries.
Burning wood produces more greenhouse emissions per unit of
electricity that burning coal.

- They generate dangerous air pollution, including particulates, that
threaten the health of local communities. In the United States,
reputable medical societies including the American Lung Association
have called for a halt to new wood fired power developments because of
their impact on public health.

- They threaten our native forests and biodiversity. By opening up a
vast new market for low grade timber, wood fired power stations would
entrench the destruction of Australia's precious native forests. The
harvesting of so called "wood waste" would also impose severe impacts
on invertebrate biodiversity and forest health.

-They compete with the real renewable energy industries that Australia
needs to chart a low-carbon future, such as wind, solar and
geothermal.

Please Mr Rudd, immediately act to close this loophole by removing
native forest "wood waste" from the list of renewable energy sources
under MRET and protecting Australia's native forests.

Yours Sincerely