Biomass policy reversed, to relief of local officials

Jasper News

Discussion

September 1, 2010

North Central Florida Regional Planning Council changes course on timber proposal

Stephenie Livingston Suwannee Democrat The Suwannee Democrat Wed Sep 01, 2010, 02:15 PM EDT

Jasper — A recently proposed policy on biomass by the Regional Comprehensive Planning Committee of the North Central Florida Regional Planning Council has been dismissed after local counties and timber growers objected through letters and resolutions, and after comments from the public during a committee meeting last week.

Last month, Hamilton County commissioners passed a resolution against the proposed amendment stating that the policy was not “in keeping with the desires and plans” of the board after the committee proposed limiting the harvesting of woody biomass from “natural resources of regional significance.”

The discarded policy had proposed to “[l]imit the harvesting of biomass from Natural Resources of Regional Significance to levels which will not significantly and adversely impact the functions of the Natural Resource of Regional Significance from which the biomass is harvested.”

Commissioners were concerned that timber growers in the county would be faced with limitation of sales, resulting in the loss of funds from the sale of forest products. Commission said they did not want to see timber growers suffer a loss of income due to limitations imposed by a government entity.

Letters were sent by the board to neighboring counties requesting that they support Hamilton County’s resolution by opposing the proposed policy.

A representative said the committee received several letters requesting the proposed policy be deleted as well as at least one letter requesting it be retained.

Local voices were, indeed, heard. The policy was deleted by the committee a few days after last Thursday’s committee meeting attended by Hamilton County authorities and local timber growers.

“To see the kind of support we received from our sister counties, and from the timber industry, was very humbling,” said Hamilton County BOCC Chairman Ronny Morgan. “We are very thankful. I think this will not only be good for our county, but for the whole state.”

Lafayette County Clerk of Court Ricky Lyons said Lafayette County Commissioners sent a letter to the committee strongly objecting to the policy.

“The board was afraid such a policy would eventually hurt timber growers in Lafayette County,” said Lyons.

Suwannee County BOCC Chairman Wesley Wainwright agreed, “I can’t help but think biomass would improve the timber market in the area.”

Still, biomass is an issue that is currently being debated, with proponents of such plants agreeing that biomass is a chief renewable energy source, while others question factors such as pollution and the sustainability of Florida’s forests.