Norway to use forests to double bioenergy output

[jpak]

http://www.reuters.com/article/environmentNews/idUSL0162363420080401?feedType=RSS&feedName=environmentNews

OSLO (Reuters) - Norway will double production of bioenergy by 2020 by tapping its vast pine forests and seek to become an exporter of renewable energies to diversify from oil and gas, the government said on Tuesday.

"This is alchemy at its best," Oil and Energy Minister Aaslaug Haga said of the plan to turn forests into what she called "green gold." The scheme would also help Norway reach targets for axing greenhouse gas emissions.

Norway, the world's number five oil exporter, would double output of bioenergy from wood, other plant material and farm waste to total about 28 terawatt hours (TWh) a year.

The rise of 14 TWh is the equivalent of Oslo's total energy use or about a tenth of Norway's annual electricity production.

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[The2ndWheel]

1. "We want to be a considerable exporter of renewable energy,"

Odd. You would think you wouldn't have to export renewable energy, let alone considerable amounts of it, especially if the goal is to conserve energy use.

[losthills]

2. The Governor of Oregon has this same scheme in mind.

These are the ravings of lunatics.

[NickB79]

3. Farming the forests

This is what it's come to: replacing forests with tree farms, and calling it environmentally friendly.