What is biomass?
Biomass, or bioenergy, creates energy by burning living things like plants and trees. Many wood pellet biomass plants in the US South use trees to create wood pellets. Then they ship those wood pellets overseas. Some companies use boilers. A boiler works by burning wood pellets or wood chips. This generates heat and electricity.
Biomass & Jesup, GA
Altamaha Green Energy (AGE) wants to produce 70 megawatts of energy at a woody biomass boiler in Jesup, GA. AGE plans to have a biomass (wood) boiler operating at an existing Rayonier paper mill by 2029. In November 2025, the Georgia Environmental Protection Division (EPD) issued an air permit to AGE.
But biomass facilities are not good for our forests, our economy, or our communities.
Biomass & pollution
Biomass burning produces toxic air pollution. This includes:
- particulates (fine dust)
- carbon monoxide
- nitrogen
- other hazardous air pollutants
Pollutants like these cause many health problems. The dangerous fine dust is called PM2.5. It’s especially harmful. PM2.5 can get into lungs and bloodstreams. PM2.5 can hurt lung function, worsen asthma, and cause heart attacks and premature death.
Biomass burners are as dirty and problematic as coal plants. Wood pellets are not carbon neutral. Making and burning wood pellets creates 50% more carbon dioxide than coal.
Biomass is expensive & inefficient
Research shows that burning biomass is not clean, green, or renewable. Burning wood is a primitive and inefficient energy. Biomass costs more than other proven renewable energy. Bioenergy has been an expensive failure in other cities. In Gainesville and Austin, biomass operations were money pits.
The Jesup biomass project will cost ratepayers more than 3x the economic value. An independent evaluator said the contract is not in the best financial interest of billpayers and:
“…it would be beneficial to GPC ratepayers if the developer chose to terminate the [agreement].”
Previous use of biomass in Georgia hasn’t been efficient or a good value for ratepayers. In a blackout during December of 2022, only 63 of 330 MW’s of biomass-produced energy was available. This is a 19% efficiency. Based upon the 20% efficiency rate, only 13.3 MW of the planned 70 MW from Altamaha will be available. The majority of the energy will be released as steam which will be sold to Rayonier.
The proposed biomass-burning plant in Jesup will harm communities. They will pay with their health and income. Take action now to say NO to dirty biomass in Georgia.
History of violations
The biomass industry has a history of violations. Every wood pellet plant in Georgia has been in violation of their air permit. The Beasley Group is the owner of FRAM Renewable Energy. They’re also the owner of Altamaha Green Energy. The Beasley Group has violated their air permits at all five of their locations across our state.
Biomass harms forests
Woody biomass companies cut trees to burn for energy. High demand for biomass opens up more forests to logging. Logging for wood pellet biomass has clearcut more than 900,000 acres in the US South in the last decade. Southern forests provide many important benefits to humans. They provide us with oxygen to breathe, clean water, and homes for animals. Forests also give us food, medicine, and materials for clothing and shelter. They also protect us from flooding and extreme storms. Forests are a vital part of our planet and are necessary for our survival.
Say NO to dirty biomass in Georgia
The state of Georgia is in an energy crisis. Georgia Power wants taxpayers to subsidize them. Then they can line their pockets while ratepayers pay more for dirty energy. Domestic biomass burning is being touted as a new alternative. All at the cost of:
- deforestation
- increased pollution
- human health
- climate change
- higher electricity rates
AGE’s plan to install a 70 MW biomass plant in Jesup, Georgia is not good for us now or in the future.
Biomass boilers are expensive, inefficient, and create pollution. The costs of this project will be passed on to ratepayers. It’s unlikely AGE will be able to produce 70 megawatts of energy. Local residents will face increased pollution that is harmful to human health. Say “NO” to this biomass boiler scheme.
- It won’t create permanent jobs.
- Ratepayers will pay 3x the value of the energy they’ll receive.
- Burning wood biomass is dirtier than coal.
- It will create harmful air pollution.
- The pollution can be harmful for people’s lungs and heart. It can even cause cancer.
- It increases the risk of fires.
What can you do to help?
We need Georgians to raise their voices. The state of Georgia must stop handing out taxpayer funding. They must stop greenlighting permits for the dirty biomass industry. Take action now!