Military Ban on LEED Spending Lifted

Congress has lifted its restriction on LEED spending by the U.S. military, which could help soften the so-called "wood wars." As Environmental Building News reports, the National Defense Authorization Act signed by President Obama on December 26 does not renew a prohibition set in place in late 2011 on use of Department of Defense funds to achieve LEED Gold or Platinum certification. The ban was enacted due to concerns on the part of the domestic timber industry, which takes issue with the LEED green building program only recognizing the Forest Stewardship Council's wood certification. Domestic timber producers argue that green building programs should recognize other forest certification schemes, including the industry-supported Sustainable Forestry Initiative.