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Why did InVision donate a presentation...

Why was BED the recipient of an InVision Presentation ?


InVision, as part of its portfolio development, donated a presentation to the Burlington Electric Department. The program development and design featured BIOMASS, moreover it demonstrates the versatility of interactive multimedia presentations and how the same presentation might be utilized in a variety of situations.

With the combination of emerging technologies, deregulation, and environmental issues facing all of us comes the need to inform and educate. The notion that InVision and the City of Burlington could mutually benefit from a presentation which focused on power production, consumption and the desire for a "green" future is well worth advocating. InVision is particularly intrigued with opportunities to be involved in fostering social responsibility.


An overview of the Burlington Electric Department

The Burlington Electric Department is currently the municipal energy provider to the residents and businesses of the City of Burlington, Vermont. BED: provides the full benefit of public power to ratepayers including local control, not-for-profit rates and tax-exempt financing; delivers electricity to homes and businesses on a system that is safe and reliable; provides customers with a full array of integrated utility offerings including power supply, generation, transmission, distribution, and energy efficiency services; and, coordinates efforts with those of other City departments to help Burlington achieve its vision of remaining a vital, sustainable community.

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In a process called "photosynthesis," plants capture sunlight and transform it into chemical energy. This energy may then be converted into electricity, heat, or liquid fuels using a number of different energy conversion processes. The organic resources that are used to produce energy using these processes are collectively called "biomass."

Environmental Benefits:

Biomass fuels produce virtually no sulfur emissions, helping to minimize acid rain. While carbon dioxide is emitted during biomass combustion, an equal amount of carbon dioxide is absorbed from the atmosphere during the biomass growth phase, thus biomass fuels "recycle" atmospheric carbon, thereby not contributing to global warming.

Biomass combustion does produce ash, but it results in less ash than coal combustion does, reducing ash disposal costs and landfill space requirements.

The low levels of sulfur and ash prevent biomass from contributing to the acid rain phenomenon. Nitrous oxide production can be controlled through modern biomass combustion techniques. Because of low sulphur content, biomass can be co-fired with coal in existing power plants to achieve compliance with laws such as the Clean Air Act Amendments in the United States.

Perennial energy crops (grasses and trees) have distinctly lower environmental impacts than conventional farm crops that are replanted annually. Energy crops require less fertilization and herbicides and provide much more vegetative cover throughout the year, providing protection against soil erosion and watershed quality deterioration, as well as improved wildlife cover.

* Energy Information Administration, Renewable Energy Annual 1995,DOE/EIA-0603(95)(Washington, DC. Dec. 1995).


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Neither InVision nor any of InVision's employees, or associates, makes any warranty, expressed or implied, or assumes any legal liability or responsibility for the accuracy, completeness, or usefulness of any information, apparatus, product or process disclosed or represents that its use would not infringe privately owned rights. Reference herein to any specific commercial product, process or service by trade name, trademark, manufacturer or otherwise, does not constitute or imply an endorsement, recommendation or favoring by InVision.