In spite of our repeated efforts we still have no specific replies to our questions regarding what actual emissions can be expected from the proposed wood fired power station near Judbury. The best we can report is that Southwood and forestry sources claim the emissions will be minimal. To quote Southwood documentation "Modern power stations have equipment to provide high level filtering of particulates. Normally no plume will be visible from such exhaust, except for the steam created by water vapour on cold days." We were left with the lingering doubt about the scientific nature of this statement and decided to research the effects of similar power stations in the US.

The results of our investigations can only be described as alarming. Although similar information is available from a number of sites, the Rygate Power Station in Vermont provides an example of the type of emissions we can expect.

The document secured is labled "Technical Analysis of an Air Contaminant Source for a Permit to Operate"  This document bearing the name Vermont Agency of Natural Resources, Department of Environmental Conservation, Air Pollution Control Division, Operating Permit Program was dated May 29 1997 (updated July 2 1997). The document specifies the plant as a 20 megawatt Wood Fired Power Station "which is fired with whole wood tree chips delivered in standard chip vans." Sounds familiar? The document goes on to specify the combustion of "mixed hardwood and softwood, with some lesser amounts of sawdust, mill chips and bark......the boiler is designed to burn green fuel"

Maximum allowable air contaminants listed were
 
 

SO2 (Sulfur Oxide)	25 tons per year
NOx (Nitrogen Oxides)	197 tons per year
CO (Carbon Monoxide)	394 tons per year
VOC's (Volatile Organic Compounds)	39 tons per year
PM (Particulate Matter)	22 tons per year

Other allowable emissions listed were chlorine, Dodecylganidine hydrochloride (DHG), Ethyl alcohol, Ethylene glycol, Hydroquinone, Isopropyl alcohol, Morpholine, Potassium hydroxide and Sodium hydroxide.

The US Environmental Protection Agency associates emissions of SO2 and NOx with acid rain. The prevailing westerly wind, at the proposed site, could easily  drive any emissions toward Judbury and the Huon Valley.

We found this document at http://searchpdf.adobe.com/proxies/1/26/42/20.html
and in it's final form at http://www.anr.state.vt.us/dec/air/Pages/permits.htm

When confronted with this damning evidence at a recent public meeting at Judbury, Southwood representatives expressed doubts as to the data's relevance to the Judbury proposal. However, when asked for documentation regarding the proposed permitted levels of contaminants to be allowed from the proposed Judbury site, Southwood representatives admitted no such document had been formulated as yet. Residents challenged Southwood to produce documentation of allowable emissions from "the cleanest Wood Fired Power Station they can find on the planet". In the absence of clear documentation, such as provided to US citizens, we can only assume the worst.

Further investigations revealed evidence of similar power stations burning waste woods, even preserved woods.