Air quality and wood pellet plants around the Southeast
This issue is causing some to consider "personal" air quality monitors
I’m hoping things slow down for you now, toward the end of 2023. Maybe you have extra t.v. time? If so, I have a documentary recommendation for you. The link is here, but if you want to watch tonight with the family, just go to YouTube and type in some of the title words which are: “Abandoned: Greed, Neglect and Environmental Injustice in Adel.”
Adel is a small town in South Georgia. I became interested in the community’s story and the entire wood pellet industry because of community science. This fall, I learned that Adel citizens were organizing to stop the building of a wood pellet plant near their homes because they worried about increased air pollution. The group, Concerned Citizens of Cook County (4C) developed several strategies to their plan including potential use of individual air quality sensors (AQI) in their neighborhoods to provide regular data on air quality. I had written about Purple Air sensors in July, and ever since had been curious about how often these “personal” AQI sensors were being used around the U.S. (See July 10’s newsletter, “Staying In and Freaking Out.”)
So for this week, the reading is short and your documentary watching will run about 35 minutes. In it, you will learn about the rural south, how air pollution from industry often negatively affects non-white populations, about the inspirational leader, Dr. Treva Gear, who works for the Dogwood Alliance, about the Dogwood Alliance, and even a little bit about bitcoin mining which was new to me.
The documentary is perfect family viewing so gather the kids around. Reduces myopic thinking. Explain that to the little ones first if you want.
Related readings
Before reading these articles, you should know: wood pellets are sometimes called biomass. Greenwashing? You decide.
See this Dec. 1, 2023 story from the Savannah Morning News about a different wood pellet plant already in operation. “Georgia has the world’s largest wood pellet factory, and state says it’s exceeding pollution limits.” (This is a today problem in the South.)
“The biomass climate hoax. Shipping Southern forests overseas to burn.” June 10, 2023. Southern Environmental Law Center.
“Adel biomass threatens South Georgia.” Sept 16, 2020. Valdosta Daily Times.
“The controversy of wood pellets as a green energy source.” Jan. 10, 2022. BBC.
Please share a comment at the green comment button below.
Winter birds?
On my regular walk yesterday I kept reminding myself to enjoy the bare branches and the increased chances for spotting birds. Then, just as I told myself this, I looked up and there was this composed and elegant hawk sitting right above me, calmly gazing around. Below is one of the shots I took with my phone, and I would really love to see your winter bird pictures too. I’ll use them and give you a photo cred in the last 2023 issue of The Everyday Scientist next week. If you can identify the bird in the photo for me, that would be perfect, but not necessary. Also, send it on even if the bird is in the distance or the photo is not perfect. I’m not much after pretty photographs here—I’m more into knowing what people are seeing around and about this year. Send them to pkzendt at gmail.com.
My place / your place? Worth thinking about
Common sense tells me that it would be healthy to deeply know and understand the place(s) where we spend our days. Author Janisse Ray is planning a year’s worth of writing and reflection guidance around this idea. I’ve signed up for this Substack-based correspondence course and will be writing along with Ray in 2024. If you are interested, check out: Journey in Place: A Year-Long Course in Place-Making.