Low-Grade Markets, Oil Subsidies

[Larry Caldwell]

In article <3893886D.6585C5E2 at daviesand.com>, karl at daviesand.com writes: 
 
> If we got rid of  all these subsidies, the retail cost of oil and gas
> would go up by a minimum of $.30 per gallon.  If you figure the high
> ends for all the costs, the retail cost of oil and gas would go up by
> $1.50 per gallon.  Guess what happens when the costs of oil and gas go
> up?  Right, people scramble for substitutes, including biomass, which
> includes wood.  All of a sudden there are markets for low-grade
> material.  All of a sudden there's no excuse for not practicing good
> silviculture.  All of a sudden, the "utilization specialists" are out
> looking for real jobs. <G>

I have always been astonished that anyone heats their homes with fossil 
fuels.  The modern pellet stove is pollution free, over 90% efficient, 
and runs on renewable resources that don't contribute to additional 
atmospheric CO2 or global warming.  A minor modification would convert 
the fuel to pellet furnaces with all the convenience of central heat.

That would give a great market for all the low grade wood products that 
are being burned in the woods right now, plus lots of paper products and 
other recycled wood that can't be turned back into useful products.

-- Larry