Although biomass-generated energy provides significant benefits, it has not been without controversy, according to the Biomass Thermal Energy Council. Community concerns have been raised regarding emissions, feedstock sustainability and incentives for biomass systems. 

A BTEC produced webinar, “Public Perceptions of Biomass Thermal Energy: Identifying Sentiment, Overcoming Challenges,” is designed to ease concerns through education. The presentation will be held Aug. 30 at 1 p.m. ET and will include three industry speakers sharing research findings and practical experiences. 

Speakers will include Honey Rand, president of Environmental PR Group, Richard Plate, a post-doctoral researcher at the University of Florida, and Eric Kingsley, vice president of Innovative Natural Resource Solutions. BTEC executive director Joseph Seymour will serve as moderator.            

The webinar will address misconceptions of biomass use and where those misconceptions originate. It will educate community leaders on biomass thermal project development and provide successful methods for communicating biomass thermal benefits. The webinar will include a question and answer session with the speakers for listeners with specific inquiries or concerns.

This is the eighth webinar in a 14-part series hosted by BTEC, and is funded in part by the Forest Service’s Wood Education and Resource Center.

BTEC is a nonprofit association that provides biomass energy advocacy, governmental relations, education, outreach and research. WERC works with the foresting industry to achieve sustainable forest production through training, technology, and education.

The webinar is free of charge with advance registration. To register click here.