[cdn-nucl-l] For peat's sake

["Jerry Cuttler" <jerrycuttler@rogers.com>]

I don't know much about peat either.
I just recall, while working at Whiteshell Laboratory in Manitoba, that
local farmers were burning peat to improve the condition of their land.
There seemed to be many underground fires and lots of smoke that made
visibility difficult and driving hazardous.  I can't understand why anyone
would want to dig up large quantities of peat and burn it for energy.

----- Original Message ----- 
From: "Bill Garland" <garlandw@mcmaster.ca>
To: <cdn-nucl-l@mailman1.cis.mcmaster.ca>
Sent: Wednesday, February 16, 2005 11:25 PM
Subject: [cdn-nucl-l] For peat's sake


> So, what is the real story on Ontario's peat supply?  I read recently that
> we have the world's biggest supply of peat and that it burns cleaner than
> coal.  Somehow, I think there is another side (ie the downside) that was
> conveniently overlooked.  High cost compared to coal?  I wonder if there
> would be a net reduction in greenhouse gases emitted if you burned the
peat
> rather than let it bio-produce methane while in the ground.  I admit to
> knowing nothing about this so any info would be a gain for me.
>
> Bill
>
> Bill Garland, Professor, Dept. of Engineering Physics, Bldg. NRB 117,
> McMaster University,  Hamilton, Ontario, CANADA L8S 4L7, Tel:
(905)525-9140
> x24925 Fax: (905)528-4339 Email: garlandw@mcmaster.ca
> Web:    http://nuceng.mcmaster.ca    http://canteach.candu.org
> www.unene.ca
>
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