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Use typhoon debris to help fund reconstruction

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By now, media reports of the massive death and destruction brought about by Typhoon Haiyan to several islands in the Philippines have been widespread. After the relief efforts are completed, the Philippines has to face the gargantuan task of rebuilding several towns and cities, and creating jobs for those who survived. This will obviously entail a lot of money, involving not just the Philippine government but also ideally a wide array of local and foreign assistance including reconstruction bonds, bilateral and multilateral aid, grants and private assistance.

Among the resources destroyed to a large extent by the typhoon aside from displaced families and destroyed habitats and buildings are the agricultural farms and plantations in those areas, especially the coconut trees. Those areas of the Philippines, unlike the major cities like Manila, rely heavily on agriculture and fisheries for their local economies. Right now, a lot of those farms and plantations such as coconut tree plantations, lie like broken matchsticks. These felled trees need to be replaced with new seedlings, which will take a few years to grow. So for now, these destroyed trees and plants are just waste waiting to be hauled elsewhere after some products like wood are derived from it. Coconut wood is not really used for permanent construction but rather mostly for scaffolding for low-rise structures.

But these destroyed trees, after some useful products are derived from them, are biomass, which is a renewable energy resource. It produces less greenhouse gas than fossil fuels like coal, and is renewed in the photosynthesis process when CO2 from the atmosphere becomes O2 as output, and the carbon goes into the plant. Fossil fuels, on the other hand, take millions of years to become fuels from plants.

The U.S. National Renewable Energy Laboratory (NREL) has published several papers on co-firing coal plants with biomass such as this paper.

NREL and other technical groups worldwide say that a certain percentage of the coal used in boilers can be replaced with biomass, leading to reduced greenhouse gas (GHG) and nitrous oxide emissions. This biomass would have to be prepared by cutting it into consistent shapes and sizes for proper burn, and properly dried for the right moisture content (ideally dry).

Perhaps co-firing coal plants with biomass from affected farmers can be a way to help in financing the reconstruction of the agricultural economies damaged by typhoons like Haiyan. Take note that these plants and trees are already damaged beyond salvage. By introducing a way to properly prepare the biomass in pelletized forms, with the proper shape and moisture content, disaster victims can raise themselves up proudly and at the same time contribute to immediate carbon emissions reduction and air pollution reduction in coal plants in their areas.

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So we use large trucks to collect downed trees, which are spread over a large area - possibly needing to make roads to get there - is this carbon neutral? Once we start burning the trees, we'll need more, perhap sustainable forests will be planted, but will the trees grow fast enough to cope with demand?

Also, how many trees does the author estimate have been felled? With not even a rough number this idea is stalled at the start line.

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Drying the wood…hauling it off somewhere…pelletizing plant…adjusting the shape and moisture…all energy consuming activities. Is this going to be an industry based on damaged trees, or a one-off activity?

A glance at many of the images of Tacloban shows houses and furniture made out of coconut products, concrete housing is a luxury...

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