The Hardwood Federation believes biomass is a sustainable and renewable energy source and is attempting to secure signatures on a letter to that effect that will be sent to three federal agencies.
The Federation, a lobbying organization dedicated to the forest products industry, already has the signatures of 36 members of the U.S. House of Representatives. It would like more, and is asking industry professionals to contact their representatives and urge them to sign the letter as well.
The letter states:
"We write to support biomass energy as a sustainable, responsible, renewable, and economically significant energy source. Federal policies across all departments and agencies must remove any uncertainties and contradictions through a clear, unambiguous message that forest bioenergy is part of the nation’s energy future."
"Many states are relying on renewable biomass to meet their energy goals, and we support renewable biomass to create jobs and economic growth while meeting our nation’s energy needs. A comprehensive science, technical, and legal administrative record supports a clear and simple policy establishing the benefits of energy from forest biomass. Federal policies that add unnecessary costs and complexity will discourage rather than encourage investment in working forests, harvesting operations, bioenergy, wood products, and paper manufacturing. Unclear or contradictory signals from federal agencies could discourage biomass utilization as an energy solution."
"The carbon neutrality of forest biomass has been recognized repeatedly by numerous studies, agencies, institutions, legislation, and rules around the world, and there has been no dispute about the carbon neutrality of biomass derived from residuals of forest products manufacturing and agriculture. Our constituents employed in the biomass supply chain deserve a federal policy that recognizes the clear benefits of forest bioenergy. We urge you to ensure that federal policies are consistent and reflect the carbon neutrality of these types of bioenergy."
The letter signatories as of July 22 are:
Reid Ribble (R-WI)
Sanford Bishop (D-GA)
Bruce Poliquin (R-ME)
Kurt Schrader (D-OR)
Gregg Harper (R-MS)
Gwen Graham (D-FL)
Ralph Abraham (R-LA)
Robert Aderholt (R-AL)
Brian Babin (R-TX)
Dan Benishek (R-MI)
Charles Boustany (R-LA)
Mo Brooks (R-AL)
Cheri Bustos (D-IL)
Ander Crenshaw (R-FL)
Peter DeFazio (D-OR)
Chuck Fleischmann (R-TN)
John Fleming (R-LA)
Trent Franks (R-AZ)
Morgan Griffith (R-VA)
Glenn Grothman (R-WI)
Jaime Herrera Beutler (R-WA)
Walter Jones (R-NC)
Derek Kilmer (D-WA)
Rick Larsen (D-WA)
Mark Meadows (R-NC)
Dan Newhouse (R-WA)
Scott Perry (R-PA)
Collin Peterson (D-MN)
Cedric Richmond (D-LA)
Mike Rogers (R-AL)
David Rouzer (R-NC)
Mike Simpson (R-ID)
Bennie Thompson (D-MS)
Glenn Thompson (R-PA)
Bruce Westerman (R-AR)
Ryan Zinke (R-MT)
