What’s a “real job,” Tim?
“. . .
Natural Resources and Renewable Energy Minister Tory Rushton was put on the spot by the NDP’s Environment critic, Claudia Chender. “Can the minister tell the House if he believes burning biomass to generate electricity is carbon neutral?”
“Is it efficient just to burn for electricity?” replied Rushton. “No, I’m an electrician by training and I know a little bit about power generation. But there are other aspects of biomass burning that we can achieve in an environmental way…. I’m not talking about cutting roundwood to be throwing it in. I am talking about actual pulpwood and low-grade wood fibre. I can say right now this government would not stand behind taking round logs to create a biomass economy here is Nova Scotia.”
Chender continued: “Well, we are talking about biomass for electricity in this case and the latter example you gave. In 2010, the provincial Renewable Energy Plan committed to using biomass for electricity to meet 2015 targets. But the author advised its use be revisited in favour of more sustainable options. That has not happened. During this past summer, many Nova Scotians told the consultation on climate change they want to see this done. Will the minister commit to doing a full lifecycle analysis of emissions generated by biomass before the Climate Plan for Clean Growth is released next spring?”
At which point Rushton chose to dive for cover.
Rushton: “What I will commit to today is the bill that will be up for third reading to do with climate change to protect our environment and to ensure we get off coal …. and I will guarantee to the member we are certainly going to have a deep look into what biomass will look like for the province of Nova Scotia and how we are going to move away from coal but utilize the resources we do still have here.”
Translation: the status quo as it relates to cutting down trees and using the wood to generate 4% of the province’s electricity will continue for another six to nine months, at least.
. . .”