U.S. Sens. Susan Collins (R-ME) and Jeff Merkley (D-OR) wrote a letter, signed by dozens of fellow senators, to the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency (EPA), U.S. Department of Energy (DOE) and U.S. Department of Agriculture (USDA), urging them to recognize the obvious benefits of including forest bioenergy, or biomass, in federal policy.
“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,” the duo said in the letter. “Our constituents employed in the biomass supply chain deserve a federal policy that recognizes the clear benefits of forest bioenergy.”
The term “biomass” refers to organic matter that contains stored energy through photosynthesis. It exists in plants and animals alike, and can be converted for human use through a number of methods.
“We urge you to ensure that federal policies are consistent and reflect the carbon neutrality of forest bioenergy,” the senators said.
Other senators who signed the letter: Kelly Ayotte (R-NH), Tammy Baldwin (D-WI), Roy Blunt (R-MI), Sherrod Brown (D-OH), John Boozman (R-AR), Bob Casey (D-PA), Richard Burr (R-NC), Joe Donnelly (D-IN), Shelley Moore Capito (R-WV), Dianne Feinstein (D-CA), Bill Cassidy (R-LA), Al Franken (D-MN), Thad Cochran (R-MI), Tim Kaine (D-VA), John Cornyn (R-TX), Angus King (I-ME), Tom Cotton (R-AR), Amy Klobuchar (D-MN), Mike Crapo (R-ID), Joe Manchin (D-WV), Steve Daines (R-MT), Barbara Mikulski (D-MD), Cory Gardner (R-CO), Claire McCaskill (D-MO), Lindsey Graham (R-SC), Patty Murray (D-WA), Johnny Isaskson (R-GA), Bill Nelson (D-FL), Ron Johnson (R-WI), Jeanne Shaheen (D-NH), David Perdue (R-GA), Debbie Stabenow (D-MI), Rob Portman (R-OH), Jon Tester (D-MT), James Risch (R-ID), Mark Warner (D-VA), Jeff Sessions (R-AL), Tim Scott (R-SC), John Thune (R-SD), Richard Shelby (R-AL), Thom Tillis (R-NC), Pat Toomey (R-PA), David Vitter (R-LA) and Richard Wicker (R-MI).