NATURAL GAS SUPPLY ASSOCIATION

CONTACT: Charlotte LeGates

PHONE: 202/326-9316

FAX: 202/326-9334

E-MAIL: clegates@ngsa.org

NGSA Releases Document Detailing Biomass Concerns

Washington, DC -- NGSA today announced the release of another publication about renewable energy sources, A Reality Check on Renewable Energy From Biomass. Compiled from a variety of sources, the document is first in a series intended to increase public awareness of the potential drawbacks of including a renewables mandate in electric restructuring.

"NGSA supports renewable energy sources," said NGSA Director of Government Affairs John Sharp. "But we oppose mandates. Forcing consumers to use renewables would result in higher costs, decreased efficiency and reliability within the electric industry, and distortions to the marketplace," he continued.

"The whole point of restructuring--to increase competition by providing open access and customer choice--is lost when a renewables mandate is imposed," Sharp added.

Points raised by the NGSA publication include:

• biomass-fueled generation is estimated by government agencies to cost 6.1 cents per kilowatt hour, or almost twice as much as natural gas combined-cycle generation;

• converting biomass to ethanol results in a net energy loss;

• costs of biomass-fueled generation may increase if a mandate is imposed, since existing biomass sources would likely be inadequate to meet demand;

• burning biomass produces more air pollution than burning natural gas;

• biomass combustion produces more than 100 different pollutants, including 14 carcinogens and four co-carcinogens.

Copies of the NGSA publication are available by clicking here, or from the NGSA receptionist at 202/326-9300.

This page was last updated August 31, 1997