Minnesota regulators consider whether biomass should be 'carbon free'

Contributing sentiments towards policy:

56% : "The MPCA's recommendation to include consideration of net emissions, will allow the Commission to consider and assess 'carbon-neutrality' rather than the more strict requirement of being 'carbon-free' at the point of electricity generation for evaluation of energy generating sources," the MPCA wrote.
53% : "Carbon emitted from fossil fuels that have been stored underground for millions of years result in a rapid conversion of solid or liquid carbon into carbon dioxide and other greenhouse gases which exceed the ability of vegetation to absorb via photosynthesis," Minnesota Power wrote in its comments, citing the United Nations' Intergovernmental Panel on Climate Change.
42% : Now, regulators are tasked with defining what energy sources should be considered "carbon-free."While there's agreement that sources like wind, solar and nuclear are carbon-free, the Minnesota Public Utilities Commission is weighing whether producing electricity by burning trash or wood waste should be considered carbon-free under the new law, despite each emitting carbon dioxide into the atmosphere when burned.

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