Resources Minister Paul Harriss announced on Sunday that the government was considering the development of a biomass plant in the Huon Valley to help ease the state’s energy woes.

He said biomass - the burning of wood products to create energy - could form a central part of the state’s energy strategy.

The government has given potential investors until February 17 to indicate their interest.

‘‘I’m confident that there are opportunities out there and the rigour and robustness of the private sector to contribute to all of this,’’ he said.

Dr Markos said he understood the appeal of a biomass plant but warned of the health hazards associated with particle pollution.

‘‘It would increase the number of lung cancer 10, 20 years down the track – it would definitely do that,’’ he said.

‘‘There are other options that are renewable and not a hazard to human health and that includes solar and wind energy.’’

An energy consultant, who asked to remain anonymous, commended the government for looking at alternative energy sources but questioned whether a biomass plant was the right choice.

‘‘The Basslink fault highlights the need for an independent assessment of the energy sector, and obviously the biomass plant wouldn’t be built in time to cater to the current need,’’ he said.

‘‘The independent market operator, the Australian Energy Market Operator, says Tasmania does not need new generation for at least 10 years.

‘‘There’s also the social licence - whilst biomass might meet the federal definition for renewable energy there’s clearly a social licence around biomass.’’

Greens leader Cassy O’Connor said Mr Harriss was an ‘‘energy dinosaur’’ and said any medium to large biomass plant would run at a substantial loss.

‘‘Burning trees to produce power is neither green, clean nor sustainable,’’ she said.

Labor leader Bryan Green demanded more detail: ‘‘These are hollow words in the face of Tasmania’s very real energy crisis,’’ he said.