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The Wood Pellet Industry In North Carolina

Wood pellets are causing an environmental controversy in North Carolina. Though the energy source is carbon neutral in theory, that's not always true in practice.

Andrew_Writer

The wood pellet industry is booming in North Carolina, thanks in part to high demand from Europe. Power plants burn the wood product to create energy, but wood pellet companies are cutting down trees at a higher rate than anticipated, raising questions about whether the practice really is carbon neutral.

This week, one of the major wood pellet companies, Enviva, announced it would give $5 million over 10 years toward environmental grants to protect bottomland forests.

Host Frank Stasio talks with WUNC environment reporter Dave DeWitt about the arguments for and against wood pellet production in North Carolina.

Will Michaels

Will Michaels is WUNC's Weekend Host and Reporter.

See stories by Will Michaels

Frank Stasio

Longtime NPR correspondent Frank Stasio was named permanent host of The State of Things in June 2006. A native of Buffalo, Frank has been in radio since the age of 19. He began his public radio career at WOI in Ames, Iowa, where he was a magazine show anchor and the station's News Director.

See stories by Frank Stasio