AWC encouraged by passage of Sen. Collins’ biomass amendment

WASHINGTON – American Wood Council (AWC) Vice President, Government Affairs Sarah Dodge has issued the following statement regarding today’s passage of the biomass amendment to the Senate Energy Bill (S. 2012), which was led by Sens. Susan Collins, Angus King and Amy Klobuchar. The amendment would require the Secretaries of Energy and Agriculture and the Administrator of the Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) to jointly ensure that federal policy relating to forest bioenergy: (1) is consistent across all departments and agencies; and (2) recognizes the full benefits of the use of forest biomass for energy, conservation and responsible forest management.

“Renewable energy policies treat sustainably-managed biomass energy as carbon neutral, but current policies – particularly under EPA – fail to distinguish biomass energy carbon emissions from fossil fuel emissions. Wood products facilities use all parts of the raw material not only in the manufacture of products used in everyday life, but also generate most of the energy needed to do so without producing CO2 that wouldn’t have otherwise been released to the atmosphere.

“Our nation’s public policies should be aligned and recognize our industry’s unique biomass use as carbon neutral and as part of the sustainable carbon cycle. We thank Senator Collins for her leadership on this amendment.”