Re: US lawmaker, environmentalist spar over nuclear power

[GlennACarlson@aol.com]

When evaluating the impact on CO2 production rates, timing makes all the 
difference.  The production of biomass fuels is contemporaneous with 
utilization to within a couple of growing seasons (?).

This has two impacts:  1) CO2 removal millions of years ago produces no 
benefit now as compared to biomass which produces a present benefit, and 2) 
the rate of CO2 generation from combustion of fossil fuels is many times 
greater than the rate of absorption of CO2 during its production as compared 
to biomass which, when considering the time scale for affecting atmospheric 
CO2 concentrations, absorbs CO2 at effectively the same rate as it releases 
when burned.

Glenn A. Carlson, P.E.
glennacarlson@aol.com

In a message dated 4/15/2000 11:35:29 AM Central Daylight Time, 
ruth_weiner@email.msn.com writes:

<< Subj:     Re: US lawmaker, environmentalist spar over nuclear power
 
 That's of course equally true for fossil fuels, which are "biomass" fossils.
 All of the carbon was at some time CO2 incorporated as biomass by
 photosynthesis.
 
 Ruth Weiner
 ruth_weiner@msn.com
 
 -----Original Message-----
 From: GlennACarlson@aol.com <GlennACarlson@aol.com>
 Date: Friday, April 14, 2000 5:45 PM
 Subject: Re: US lawmaker, environmentalist spar over nuclear power
  
 >Perhaps, it should read no "net" carbon dioxide since the carbon dioxide
 >removed from the air during production (i.e., growth) of the biomass fuel
 may
 >be greater than the carbon dioxide released during combustion.
 >
 >Glenn A. Carlson, P.E.
 >glennacarlson@aol.com
 >
 >In a message dated 4/14/2000 3:26:54 PM Central Daylight Time,
 >neildm@id.doe.gov writes:
 >
 ><< Subj:     RE: US lawmaker, environmentalist spar over nuclear power
 >
 > "The alternative energy sources which produce no carbon dioxide -
 renewable
 > sources like solar and wind power, biogas from landfills, and crops to
 burn
 > in power stations " - Paul Brown, Environment Correspondent
 >
 > Say what?  The last two are renewable, but they darn well DO produce CO2;
 > it's just a different carbon source.
 >
 > Dave Neil      neildm@id.doe.gov
 >
 
  >>
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