Alaska and the EPA regarding wood burning

EPA To Alaskans In Sub-Zero Temps: Stop Burning Wood To Keep Warm

 

The article is either poorly researched or intentionally written deceivingly for shock appeal.

The EPA is not banning wood burning stoves, they are thinking of enforcing the ban on non EPA complient stoves. I think most forum readers and contributors have already updated to EPA complient stoves.

The artocle is refering to folks who can not or will not update their stove. I have little sympathy as I have an add on my desk for a $300 epa complient stove and most people who claim not to be able to afford something governemnt compliant are the same ones on food stamps using fancy phones and driving nice cars. For the few that can truly not afford it they are probably not worried about payjng the fines either. For any that are left I am sure there is some grant they can take advantage of.

 

My posting of this story was to inform, not to offend. It is no secret that most of us now have EPA compliant stoves, and some of us do not. However, to bring suspected economic status into the fray is an entirely different discussion, it's a dog eat dog world and I have no patience in discussing the direction you have tried to push your ignorant views, simply thought the guys on this forum would have found it interesting.

 

Someone beat ya to it.EPA wants Alaskans to stop burning wood?
This was posted on another forum too. Someone that lives there and was familiar with the specific issues posted and said that it really can get kinda smoky around there sometimes...

 

Lots of NG here.
But the Feds & many state politicians are fighting against a NG pipeline
from the N Slope that would greatly reduce pollution in Fairbanks
& could be liquefied & exported.
Jobs, cheaper - cleaner energy

Talk out of both ends & 2 sides
yet get nothing done. Typical.

The Military bases run diesel fired power plants.
Many Home owner burn diesel, (heating oil )
Vehicles ,diesel rigs, heavy equipment are left idling for hours.
When the temp inversion occurs , the ll this pollution & particulate matter is trapped too.

Several OWBs there that smoke due to poorly seasoned wet wood.

Problem has solutions
but our Fed & state Gov'ts finds it better to talk about it
& for 20 years & use it for political purposes when needed than to solve the problem.

Every winter, talk talk talk, bad mouth wood burners
But do nothing to solve the problem.

Maybe the EPA should fund "Snow Birding"
Everyone leave Fairbanks in Oct , on the Gov't tax $$$$ & live in communities in Florida thru March .

 

It always gets interesting when the EPA is mentioned in the same sentence as wood stoves.

As long as the facts are presented this will be a great discussion.

 

The EPA's paperwork is good for 2 things:

Lining birdcages
Toilet paper

 

I'd also add fire starting.

 

I should have said 3 uses!

 

I'm not in Alaska but using such broad strokes or stereotyping like that is kinda scary, it reminds me of racist rambling.

I don't have a updated stove, could easily afford one too. Dont want one!
Where do I fit into your crazy fascist social structure?

 

We like to be respectful and polite here.

 

As long as you are a responsible burner, you fit in quite well!

Nothing wrong with a non-epa stove.

 

I didn't read the article. I feel that I can recognize propaganda immediately and an article like this has an agenda written all over it.

Many great responses here, too.

 

The New York Times article he used as his source is a little more "balanced."

http://www.nytimes.com/2016/12/25/us/alaskans-cost-of-staying-warm-a-thick-coat-of-dirty-air.html

Frankly, I think it is a problem of understanding, education, and persuasion. The last two paragraphs of the NYT article sums up the solution to the problem. There are a lot of political arguments that can be made, even some that are not immediately apparent. 90% of the solution will be found through individual action.

 

I find this problem to be a tough nut to crack. I have two smoke dragon owners within 1/2 mile of where I live and while I would like them to upgrade to EPA stoves, I don't see it happening for a couple reasons:

1. cost
2. habit

Even if provided free EPA stoves to solve #1, #2 would still be there to deal with. Both burn wood piled on the ground and one can only imagine the moisture content. One is next door and I watched someone deliver two loads of red oak and black cherry in rounds this summer. They did stack about half of it but did NOTHING else until (insert drum roll sound here) it got cold and the wood was already covered by wet snow. Watched as they hammered it out of the pile, split it as best the could and haul it to the front door so it could be loaded into the stove.

They can see my stacks (25+ cord) from their pile of wood and have commented several times on how much wood I have (yes, several times I explained to them the need to split and season wood for at least two years before burning ... but apparently it came out in some foreign language and they could not comprehend it ).

I can't be too hard on these people as they just are not at a place where they can understand the need to do this ... not sure if/when they ever will be.

 

Here's a different take on this:
EPA To Alaskans In Sub-Zero Temps: Stop Burning Wood To Keep Warm

 

This made me chuckle.

 

That's the same article linked by the OP.

 

If the article misrepresented what the EPA is saying then it's crap, we have enough of that with the politics, no defense of it.