The Regional Wood-fired Power Station Championship

The Wood-fired Power Station Gymnastics Regional Championship

It’s been a big day in gymnastics with the results of the championship now in doubt. The rules have been changed and no-one quite knows what it all means. The Forest Products Association currently has its head wedged in its bottom as a result of contortions attempting to fit their power station project into the new rules. They’ve been agile up till now, vaulting neatly over the Renewable Energy Act and Native Vegetation Conservation Act.

Games boss Bob Carr announced in June that no stand-alone native forest biomass power plants will be permitted in NSW. It sounded good at first. Then we had a look at the fine print.

What did he mean? "Native forests cannot be harvested to solely supply biomass for power generation, and forest residues from harvesting & silvicultural operations in native forests on Crown lands cannot be supplied for use in power generation. Forest residues means all by-products or waste generated in the forest from forestry operations, including non-commercial logs, crown, butt and trees felled for forest management purposes. Co-firing of forest biomass in power plants will only be permitted using forest residues managed in accordance with the Plantations and Reafforestation Act and Code of Practice, exotic woody weed species, woody energy planted crops and bagasse and sawmill residues."

Some of the questions for us:

Will we see power stations using timber from private lands? The vegetation plan won’t help, and the Code of Practice for private forestry is very weak.
How will anyone know whether fuel has come from private land or Crown land?
Will we see power stations that have a token co-firing element so they fit under the policy?
Will sawmill waste become the new growth industry?
What’s a non-commercial log?

We’re a suspicious lot, but we have to be. The FPA has told us that the new policy does not affect their plans to establish a wood-fired power station in Grafton. Carr’s policy seems to be trying to appease greens and forest industry at once. Don’t be fooled. It’s all gone quiet for now, but don’t relax. If you hear anything, let us know at the Centre.