The American Forest & Paper Association (AF&PA), Washington, D.C., USA, President and CEO Donna Harman issued the following statement in response to the Senate Interior Appropriations bill that includes a provision to recognize the carbon benefits of biomass energy.

 

"We appreciate Senators Collins and Merkley’s legislative efforts to bring closure to EPA’s six-plus years of uncertainty for biogenic CO2 emissions and ensure federal regulations recognize the atmospheric carbon reducing benefits of biomass-based energy. The Senate Interior Appropriation bill provides a policy framework that uses a practical, science-based approach to achieve this.

"The paper and wood products manufacturing industry is the largest producer and user of renewable energy of any manufacturing sector in the U.S., with on average about two-thirds of the energy needed to run our mills being generated on site from biomass. Most of this biomass comes in the form of manufacturing residuals, the use of which avoids approximately 181 million metric tons of CO2 emissions per year – equivalent to removing about 35 million cars from the road.

 

"We urge senators and the administration to support this approach and hope the provision will be enacted."