Biomass: Another “Green” Fraud
The Vox article takes for granted all of the hyperbole about global warming, but points out that the premise on which burning wood is “carbon neutral” is the assumption that all wood will eventually decay and release CO2 back into the atmosphere. That might be true (it isn’t, actually, which is why we have oil and gas) but only on a time scale that is too long to be helpful if you think the world is facing a climate crisis.
Now, they are switching from coal back to trees. No suitable European trees are available (are left) so they come from Virginia. The amount of CO2 released is greater due to lower burning efficiency and shipping across the Atlantic with diesel freighters. It is justified under the slogan of renewable which beats even CO2, and it costs more. Who pays?- the public via taxes and the consumer of electric power from monopoly power companies. Who gains? The usual rent seekers.
As you say.
The planet has plenty of coal. It can give reliable and cheap electric power, as a bonus the CO2 emissions are beneficial.
I forget the exact figure, but there is 100 times more carbon deep within the earth than there ever was in our atmosphere.
PS...the carbon in the oceans keeps a lid on the methane so we really don't need to worry about cow farts either!