PORT TOWNSEND — No minds were changed during a forum this week on the advantages and possible dangers of biomass cogeneration, said retired biophysicist Larry Bonar at its conclusion.

“There is a shortage of facts here,” he told about 130 people gathered for the Monday night forum at the Port Townsend Community Center.

“People are relying more upon their opinions.”

Bonar, one of three speakers, provided background on the use of wood-waste burning for power and laid the groundwork for a debate between environmentalist Diana Somerville of Port Angeles and Team Jefferson member Bill Wise.

In his concluding remarks, Bonar said: “When people are selective in their search for data, it makes it harder to make rational decisions or reach a rational consensus.”

But positions in the debate about burning wood waste for power were outlined during the examination of biomass technology and how it applies to the North Olympic Peninsula.

Both Port Townsend Paper Corp. and Nippon Paper Industries USA in Port Angeles are planning to expand their biomass facilities, using the wood-burning to produce steam and generate electricity, for which credits can be sold.

The Port Townsend Paper Corp. plans a $55 million project that would generate up to 24 megawatts of electrical power.

Nippon’s $71 million upgrade of its biomass boiler would generate up to 20 megawatts of electrical power.

Both are the subjects of appeals to state agencies by environmental groups, who say burning wood waste for industrial uses increases air and water pollution and threatens the sustainability of ecosystems.

Opponents of biomass feel the technology hasn’t been proven safe and favor holding off on granting permits until new regulations are enacted.

“We are not on an island, and there are no fences,” said Somerville, representing environmental groups that have filed appeals against biomass expansion at the two facilities.

“We are part of the global air system, and air goes everywhere,” she said.

“Anything that releases CO2 [carbon dioxide] puts something in the air that wasn’t there before, and this isn’t something that I want to bet my health on.”

She said the particulate matter generated from biomass generators can penetrate and corrupt the smallest membranes on the human body.

Wise said biomass generators have a lower economic impact than other technologies and that government regulations and the Port Townsend Paper Corp. mill’s track record will keep the community safe.

He said biomass generation is both safe and necessary.

“We need to be using our imaginations to develop alterative-energy sources,” Wise said.

“We can’t rely on fossil fuels for much longer.”

Somerville agreed but said she does not trust either Nippon Paper or the Port Townsend Paper Corp. to keep the air safe.

She said the consequences are too severe if there is a miscalculation or accident.

“It’s wrong to judge this in financial terms because you can’t put a price on asthma,” she said.

Wise responded that to take biomass off the table will damage community health in the long run, as a loss of jobs and income will jeopardize health coverage for a large percentage of the population.

The forum’s format did not allow audience members to ask direct questions.

But as Somerville and Wise talked, some supporters of each said they did not believe what the other was saying.

Jefferson County Commissioner David Sullivan, who supports biomass, said Wise gave a good presentation and that Somerville’s lacked details.

PT AirWatchers member Elaine Bailey said that though Wise’s presentation sought to promote biomass, it strengthened her opposition.

PT AirWatchers member Gretchen Brewer said her mind wasn’t changed but that she thought the forum was worthwhile.

“It was a great opportunity to hear divergent viewpoints in calm circumstances where we could really listen to what was being said and even identify some, albeit small, areas of agreement,” she said.

“I think that it really revealed areas where we collectively have good information and where we need to dig more and share to get the facts out.”

An appeal of the Port Townsend mill’s project will be before the state Pollution Control Hearings Board on June 2-3.

An appeal of Nippon’s project will be heard April 7 and May 2-3 by the state Shoreline Hearings Board.

Appealing the Port Townsend Paper Corp.’s proposed biomass cogeneration project are Port Townsend AirWatchers, No Biomass Burn of Seattle, World Temperate Rainforest Network, Olympic Environmental Council and Olympic Forest Coalition.

Those groups also are appealing the Nippon plant’s plans and are joined in that action by the Center for Environmental Law and Policy of Spokane and the Cascade Chapter of the Sierra Club.

All of Monday’s speaker presentations are scheduled to be posted on the Local 2020 website, www.l2020.org.

A follow-up discussion is planned from 7 p.m. to 9 p.m. April 6 at the RoseWind Common House, 3131 Haines St.

For more information about the April discussion, phone 360-379-4858.

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Jefferson County Reporter Charlie Bermant can be reached at 360-385-2335 or at charlie.bermant@peninsuladailynews.com.