Biomass Choir Singers
A number of wood biomass supporters including the son of a former governor recently appeared before a Sun editorial board with reasons why Senate Bill 365 should be overridden and continuing this North Country industry.
Unfortunately, they sung like a choir performing before the wrong audience.
Sen. Jeb Bradley, Lobbyist Jasen Stock, Tom Thompson and local forester Karla Allen all made compelling arguments for wood biomass energy production but they should have been in southern New Hampshire where the real votes are that will decide the fate of this industry on September 13th.
"If landowners who for years have been willing to share with the public and the state are going to shut access to their land down." said Tom Thompson son of the former governor best known for his ultra-conservative policies on state spending and his infamous quote, "Ax the tax!" New Hampshire was different then but Thompson is right if this override vote fails there will be decisive changes to North Country forestry- it will cease to exist.
The reality of this upcoming vote is that a majority of legislators are from the metropolitan southern tier and have little interest in wood biomass, working forests or even the North Country.
"Ax the wood biomass tax." said Gov. Chris Sununu who is easily cruising to his second term as governor as he continues to oppose the multi million dollar state subsidies the wood biomass industry receives. This is an argument too.
If the wood biomass industry and it's lobbyists and supporters can't quickly come up with a more focused and coherent argument about it's statewide economic value there will not be much doubt as what the outcome of this vote will be.
Unfortunately, they sung like a choir performing before the wrong audience.
Sen. Jeb Bradley, Lobbyist Jasen Stock, Tom Thompson and local forester Karla Allen all made compelling arguments for wood biomass energy production but they should have been in southern New Hampshire where the real votes are that will decide the fate of this industry on September 13th.
"If landowners who for years have been willing to share with the public and the state are going to shut access to their land down." said Tom Thompson son of the former governor best known for his ultra-conservative policies on state spending and his infamous quote, "Ax the tax!" New Hampshire was different then but Thompson is right if this override vote fails there will be decisive changes to North Country forestry- it will cease to exist.
The reality of this upcoming vote is that a majority of legislators are from the metropolitan southern tier and have little interest in wood biomass, working forests or even the North Country.
"Ax the wood biomass tax." said Gov. Chris Sununu who is easily cruising to his second term as governor as he continues to oppose the multi million dollar state subsidies the wood biomass industry receives. This is an argument too.
If the wood biomass industry and it's lobbyists and supporters can't quickly come up with a more focused and coherent argument about it's statewide economic value there will not be much doubt as what the outcome of this vote will be.
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