Tim Echols

Woody Biomass energy is something Georgia is blessed with. It allows us to use homegrown wood residuals that would otherwise be burned or landfilled to provide additional reliable power for Georgia. We may pay a little more, but the benefits for our electric system and our state are worth it. Recently, the Georgia Public Service Commission approved three biomass contracts at paper and pulp mills in south Georgia. These contracts are somewhat more expensive than coal or gas but represent only a tiny fraction of our total generation, yet they’re very important to our state. …Opponents of this measure are concerned with burning wood, but according to the Georgia Forestry Commission, we are growing 48% more timber-volume than we are harvesting. The trees we are planting now grow faster due to improved genetics, too. And using every part of every tree helps ensure healthy and sustainable forests that sequester CO2— benefiting our air quality.