Dear Editor:

Zoe Meyer deserves applause for bringing attention to the ongoing attempt by the wood pellet industry to expand into California, “Golden State Natural Resources’ wood pellet project and the debate over California’s Forests”, March 8. Producing wood pellets so that they can be burned in biomass incinerators to generate electricity is, quite simply, terrible for the planet and is something we should all be alarmed about.

The pellet making process releases carbon monoxide, nitrogenous gases, and other hazardous air pollutants, as well as formaldehyde and other volatile organic compounds and burning of wood pellets in biomass incinerators is even more polluting than burning coal. Getting the pellets to the incinerators, most of which are in foreign countries, requires shipping them in fossil fuel-powered ships, an additional source of carbon emissions. So too is the loss of forest carbon to the atmosphere during the extraction of the wood required to create the pellets.

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At this critical juncture in time for our planet when our lives and are planet are being so dramatically affected by climate change, we urgently need to keep carbon in the ground, not log it and then release it into the atmosphere via biomass incinerator smokestacks. The substitution of coal with wood pellets is the exact opposite of a climate solution and the narrative that it a good alternative to coal is a classic case of greenwashing. It is not cleaner than coal and, in that it takes decades to recapture the carbon lost by the burning of trees, it is not truly renewable.

Truly renewable, truly clean energy resources like wind and solar should be expanded to meet our energy needs, not the wood pellet/biomass incineration industry.

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Jennifer Normoyle

Dear Editor:

The Sierra Sun published an article on March 8 with the headline, “Golden State Natural Resources’ (GSNR) wood pellet project and the debate over California’s Forests.” The author details GSNR’s project, whose sourcing radius would extend into the Tahoe Basin and surrounding forests. The fundamental question is if an industrial-scale wood pellet biomass facility, intending to create a product for overseas energy-generation, will help build resilience against climate-driven wildfires. While wildfire experts and scientists have now come up with many solutions to help communities build resilience, industrial-scale wood pellet production and export is definitively not in the best interest of our communities or forests.

As a primary industry with a continuous demand for fiber, the wood pellet biomass industry would increase pressure on forests to supply material above and beyond measures taken to create defensible space around our homes or communities. This compromises forests’ ability to store and sequester carbon: a key defense against climate change. Furthermore, the pellets would be shipped overseas and burned to generate electricity, immediately releasing greenhouse gasses. The significant controversy surrounding Drax Biomass, who recently announced an MOU with GSNR, is ample evidence that these projects do not belong in our wildfire plans or forests. The overlap between the board members of GSNR and the Wildfire Task Force is also concerning, considering their ability to directly influence policy from which they will profit. It’s time to equip people living in high-risk wildfire areas with the resilient solutions that we know are most effective. It makes no sense to promote a project that stands to add more planet-warming gasses to the atmosphere.

As opposed to GSNR’s biomass nonsense, we need funding and local implementation of Firewise programs: metal roofing, home-out defensible space, higher pay for local departments, smoke centers, improved evacuation routes, and buried utilities. The Forest Service and our insurance companies agree that these are the only ways to protect life and property during extreme fire events. Our rural communities don’t need another biomass or logging boom and bust that creates energy for overseas markets. GSNR is a waste of our time and energy.

Melissa Soderston
Director, Tahoe Forests Matter

Dear Editor:

The Boys & Girls Club of North Lake Tahoe would like to thank Northstar-California and Vail Resorts Epic Promise for teaming up to provide 80 local kids with an unforgettable ski and snowboard experience.

For years, the partnership between the Boys & Girls Club of North Lake Tahoe and Northstar-California has opened doors for children who may not have had access to winter sports experiences otherwise. Participants receive rental equipment, a lift ticket, and professional instruction. It’s an invaluable experience for local kids and has become a sought-after program at the Boys & Girls Club of North Lake Tahoe. The program has brought smiles, laughter, and unforgettable memories to hundreds of Club kids in the community. This season, 80 local kids were given the opportunity to hit the slopes and experience the joy of skiing and snowboarding in their own backyard. Many of these kids have never tried skiing or snowboarding before, or even been to the resort as a guest.

“We are thrilled to again join forces with Northstar-California and Vail-Epic Promise to offer this incredible opportunity to the youth in our community,” said Mindy Carbajal, CEO of the Boys & Girls Club of North Lake Tahoe. “It’s not just about learning a new sport, this program helps to build confidence, foster friendships, and creates lifelong memories. We are grateful to Northstar-California and Vail-Epic Promise for their generosity and commitment to local children.”

Thank you to Northstar-California, Vail-Epic Promise, to all of the instructors and employees who helped to make the 2024 season a huge success!

Stephany Arroyo
Boys & Girls Club of North Lake Tahoe