Ribble, Bishop lead legislators in urging EPA to acknowledge sustainable managed forests

U.S. Reps. Reid Ribble (R-WI) and Sanford Bishop (D-GA) sent letters on Tuesday urging the federal government to acknowledge sustainably managed forests as carbon neutral, in terms of proposed regulations by the Environmental Protection Agency (EPA).

“Sustainable forest management has been documented many times over as a net positive for our environment, and as the No. 1 paper-producing state in the nation, it is a cornerstone of both our economy and our landscape,” Ribble said. “It is crucial that that the EPA and other federal agencies recognize this positive effect and not penalize states whose economies rely heavily on sustainable forest management in any future rulemakings.”

The Clean Power Plan, expected to be implemented by the EPA in the relatively near future, includes a number of new regulations that will challenge states to reduce carbon emissions from their existing infrastructure. Harsh rules are expected for new power plants as well. Many states currently count on renewable biomass, which is very often a byproduct of forest management along with pulp and paper production, as an important element of their plan in meeting their broader energy production goals.

“It is vitally important to Georgia and our nation that we continue to protect our broad energy portfolio and employ all types of resources, including biomass and other renewable sources of energy,” Bishop added. “To that end, we must ensure oversight of the energy industry reflects an understanding that biomass utilization is a carbon neutral and economically viable process.”

The letters, sent on behalf of a bipartisan team of 154 members of Congress, were submitted to EPA Administrator Gina McCarthy, Department of Energy Secretary Ernest Moniz and Department of Agriculture Secretary Tom Vilsack.

“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,” the lawmakers wrote. “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.”