A Toronto-based energy company announced plans to build a biofuel plant in Louisiana using wood and garbage, but critics question its sustainability.
Wesley Muller reports for Louisiana Illuminator.
In short:
- Woodland Biofuels plans to use industrial wood scraps and waste to produce biofuels at a $1.35 billion facility in St. John the Baptist Parish.
- The project could create 110 jobs with an average salary of $90,000, supported by $10 million in state grants and tax incentives.
- Critics argue burning biomass for energy worsens deforestation, emits pollutants, and slows the shift to cleaner energy sources.
Key quote:
"Carbon dioxide emissions from burning wood are actually higher than burning coal."
— 2018 Environmental Research Letters study
Why this matters:
While biofuels offer a potential renewable energy source, the environmental cost of burning biomass raises concerns about pollution, deforestation, and whether this approach truly moves society toward cleaner energy.
