Lawmaker says proposed energy rules 'unfair' to South (response LTE)

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John Bonitz, Farm Outreach and Policy Advocate at SACE, writes a letter to the editor of the Montgomery Advertiser arguing that renewable energy legislation presents economic opportunities for Alabama, particularly through biomass conversion of coal plants and job creation in rural areas. Bonitz counters state legislators' criticism of federal renewable energy rules by highlighting Georgia Power's biomass conversion project and Alabama's existing renewable energy capacity.

My organization estimates that we can easily quadruple this figure, and we should: Doing so could mean thousands of jobs and economic development for Alabama's hard-hit rural areas.
John Bonitz

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Dear Editor,

I am writing in response to the 01/28/09 article, "Lawmaker says proposed energy rules 'unfair' to
South."

While a few of Alabama's state legislators hurl dramatic words about "unfair" federal legislation for
renewable energy, other Alabamans are looking at a plus side of this legislation: jobs.

Alabama Power is studying converting old coal-fired power plants to burn 100% wood waste (aka
biomass), a move that Georgia Power is already implementing. When Georgia Power converts Plant
Mitchell from coal to biomass, it will create 75-100 permanent jobs (in addition to 80-100 construction
jobs). Elsewhere in the state, ADECA's Biomass Energy Program has helped four wood products
companies save over $21 million using renewable energy grown and harvested in Alabama. The
source of the savings is renewable biomass, often less expensive than dirty fossil fuels.

Every state has renewable energy resources, and Alabama's advantage is her plenitude of plants and
trees. This biomass provides a wealth of renewable energy. Each year, Alabama already generates
more than 10,000 megawatthours of electricity using these home grown resources. My organization
estimates that we can easily quadruple this figure, and we should: Doing so could mean thousands of
jobs and economic development for Alabama's hard-hit rural areas.

Alabama's elected officials should be looking for every possible way to employ more Alabama
citizens, and this is an important opportunity, readily available. Let's give renewable energy
technologies a chance – we need the jobs.

Sincerely,

John Bonitz
Farm Outreach and Policy Advocate
Southern Alliance for Clean Energy