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Sep 4, 2020 7:42 pm GMTSep 4, 2020 7:41 pm GMT
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Report quantifies impact of the Minnesota Bioincentive Program | Biomassmagazine.com

The Bioeconomy Coalition of Minnesota has released the results of a new analysis that shows Minnesota’s Bioincentive Program is working to generate significant economic and job benefits for the state’s biobased industrial product companies.

Source: biomassmagazine.com

“This new analysis shows that the Bioincentive Program is working to make Minnesota an attractive place for the industry to invest and those investments have an incredible multiplier effect on the economy and jobs base,” said Brendan Jordan, vice president of transportation and fuels at the Great Plains Institute (GPI). “The multibillion-dollar economic impact is at risk because the incentive is being underfunded in the Minnesota Legislature. Companies are making investments based on the incentive formula written into state statute, but that could end if the state does not live up to its commitment. In this uncertain time, we need to make sure that we invest in what works to preserve jobs and stabilize the economy for what lies ahead.”

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Rick Engebretson on Sep 7, 2020

I'm not sure the link to the full report of the report works. I did reach their foresty article.

The GPI is indeed an important industry lobby group. But if you replace their use of the term "stakeholder" with "industrial forestry and agriculture" you will understand their perspective.

Forests that are managed like corn fields, subsidized by the taxpayer and governed by experts in the Minneapolis riot zone, is not in the best interest of biodiversity or productivity. The extreme complexity of our natural world deserves priority consideration and care.

The Minnesota DNR has a long history of excellent expertise, and I would prefer to learn their proposal. We need to practice biomass management for climate, biodiversity, soil, water, energy, economy, simultaneously.

Bob Meinetz on Sep 7, 2020

"The GPI is indeed an important industry lobby group..."

Rick, GPI is a 501(c)(3) non-profit group. if a substantial part of their activity is devoted to lobbing, they will lose their tax-exempt status:

"In general, no organization may qualify for section 501(c)(3) status if a substantial part of its activities is attempting to influence legislation (commonly known as lobbying)."

In general - it appears that GPI, like SEIA and AWEA, is dedicated to commercializing the raping and pillaging of natural resources under the guise of "sustainability".

What's your opinion of the documentary Planet of the Humans? In it, liberal icon Michael Moore pulls the curtain back on what's driving Big Green, and in particular biomass as a source of fuel. Who knew "green" referred to the color of cash?

If you haven't seen it, the film is available for free on YouTube.

Rick Engebretson on Sep 15, 2020

Bob, I've seen the film and agree biomass can be done very badly. I've never advocated "firewood" as any solution. There are many efforts past and present trying "cellulosic biofuels." Minnesota has some of them. But the group at Stanford University, Center for Quantum Molecular Design

https://cqmd.stanford.edu/

has been referenced many times. The large scale storage of solar energy as biomass derived "solar fuels" is very real, active science.

No, we don't want GMO forests to chew up as firewood.

Rick Engebretson on Sep 7, 2020

I got their link to work. And yes, Minnesota has always had large agriculture and forestry industries. I don't know if offering state pennies on industrial dollars has the cause and effects cited.

What I do know is my food scientist wife's Cornell Lab of Ornithology citizen scientist participation has spread a lot of bluebirds and tree swallows around. Now she is doing monarch butterflies. Learning to live and work with nature is very different than industrial scale exploitation.

I also know our new Amish community in this area sells more local farm product than the stores they set up at.

Respect for our complex living Earth needs to count somewhere.

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Report quantifies impact of the Minnesota Bioincentive Program | Biomassmagazine.com

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Report quantifies impact of the Minnesota Bioincentive Program | Biomassmagazine.com

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