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Pitch

Rather than a controlled burn in fire-prone areas, biomass should be transported nearby and burned to generate power.


Description

Summary

Recent wildfires in the US and other countries highlight the need to control biomass accumulation in fire-prone areas. Especially when areas are under government management, power stations could be placed in suitable areas to burn biomass for power rather than execute controlled burns to limit fire risk.

Also, a "tinder tax" might be levied on private lands that pose a threat. These funds could offset cost of power station construction. Incentives for private land owners could be created for biomass removal and/or power generation by land owners.

Agencies like the US Bureau of Land Management could develop policies for land management that include identifying appropriate areas at high risk. These areas might be managed to both reduce the risk of fire and produce power from otherwise dangerous biomass.


Is this proposal for a practice or a project?

Practice


What actions do you propose?

Tasking governments with developing strategies to limit wildfire risk while generating power. Governments could accept bids for biomass harvest and recover costs from power generation.


Who will take these actions?

Governments could implement a "tinder tax" on private lands at risk. Land owners could offset this tax by harvesting biomass and producing power or by selling the biomass to nearby power generators.


Where will these actions be taken?

Appropriate at risk areas would be identified by governments and taxed if private or managed for power generation.


In addition, specify the country or countries where these actions will be taken.

No country selected


Country 2

No country selected


Country 3

No country selected


Country 4

No country selected


Country 5

No country selected


Impact/Benefits


What impact will these actions have on greenhouse gas emissions and/or adapting to climate change?

Wildfires are a fact of life. The biomass resource which would otherwise produce carbon dioxide regardless might at least reduce power needs locally.


What are other key benefits?

A biomass power industry might develop for harvesting biomass and producing power from it on a small scale. Machinery for harvesting various biomass types aimed at maximum removal and minimal invasiveness could be manufactured. Some areas might be modified for better harvesting.


Costs/Challenges


What are the proposal’s projected costs?

This proposal could be revenue neutral especially when you include loss of life and property due to wildfires.


Timeline

This proposal could be implemented immediately. Actual wildfire reductions and biomass power generating station construction would be dependent on local factors.


About the author(s)

The author is a retired computer programmer and systems analyst.


Related Proposals

Tinder tax.


References