Minnesota Public Radio (MPR) reported over the weekend,
State regulators rule that burning trash and wood can be considered ‘carbon-free’
Sounds counter intuitive. The state of Minnesota has a mandate in place to reach 100 percent carbon-free electricity by 2040. As always, the devil is in the details. Nuclear was declared carbon-free. Small amounts of natural gas (CH4) have been given a waiver. It’s all been left up to the state Public Utilities Commission (PUC).
MPR reports,
Burning trash and wood to generate electricity will now be considered as a carbon-free source under Minnesota’s landmark clean energy law, after a decision by state utility regulators following a contentious hearing Thursday.
Some details from last Thursday,
In a raucous meeting Thursday that was twice interrupted by protestors, the five members of the state PUC ruled that facilities that burn municipal waste or biomass to generate electricity can still be considered carbon-free, even if they emit large amounts of carbon dioxide or other greenhouse gas emissions.
Not that it makes a huge difference,
Only about 2 percent of the electricity generated in Minnesota comes from biomass and trash incineration.
When climate piety meets bureaucracy, strange results can ensue.
