WASHINGTON, DC (August 5, 2009) – A diverse coalition of 76 organizations urged the Senate today to adopt renewable forest biomass as a renewable energy source in its climate change/energy legislation. The groups, representing a broad cross-section of interests, including wildlife conservation, forestry, renewable energy and utilities, are seeking a broad definition of forest biomass to ensure its full contribution to energy and climate change solutions.
The group wrote, “We urge you to appropriately include renewable forest biomass as a qualified resource to meet our nation’s renewable energy and climate change goals. The proper utilization of renewable forest biomass to meet energy and climate change needs will provide significant economic, environmental, and social benefits to the country and bring timely aid to struggling rural economies.”
The letter continues, “Forest biomass is plentiful, carbon-neutral and essential to meet our nation’s renewable energy and climate objections. Sound management of our forests to provide biomass energy will also improve the overall carbon footprint of domestic energy supplies while contributing to the long-term forest health vitality – improving wildlife habitat, protecting water quality and reducing catastrophic wildfires that emit millions of tons of carbon dioxide and other greenhouse gases each year.”
David P. Tenny, President and CEO of the National Alliance of Forest Owners, said, “Working forests are key to meeting our nation’s renewable energy and climate needs. Tapping the full potential of renewable forest biomass will supply our country with a clean and plentiful source of domestic energy while helping to maintain healthy forests, environments and rural economies. This letter demonstrates the breadth of support behind this approach.”
The full letter (PDF), including all of the cosigners, is available on the NAFO website. For more information on renewable forest biomass, visit www.nafoalliance.org/renewable.
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NAFO is an organization of private forest owners committed to promoting federal policies that protect the economic and environmental values of privately-owned forests at the national level. NAFO membership encompasses more than 75 million acres of private forestland in 47 states.
Tags: biomass
