April 4, 2003

Rep. Scott McInnis (R-CO) introduced language to spur the expansion of forest biomass energy production which was included in the comprehensive energy bill that passed the U.S. House Resources Committee April 2, 2003. His proposal would promote the removal of small woody material on the forest floor that has accumulated over the years in many forests and would provide grants to local communities and tribes to establish biomass energy facilities.

Comment 1: This is a responsible solution to protecting our forests as well as the people who live in communities near them. It will help clean up the forest floor and be a source of renewable energy for these communities.

Comment 2: A double win for everyone! This provides renewable energy while helping clean and protect our forests for our children. What a sensible use of grant money to clean up the environment and create clean fuel at the same time.

Background and links: Reduction of forest fuels that feed large wildfires is a priority of federal, state and local land managers but much of the material to be removed is too dense to safely burn, and too small to sell for timber values. If biomass markets were available, much of this otherwise-unmerchantable material could generate enough money to offset the costs of its removal while providing additional energy production in rural areas.

Without a viable biomass sector, land managers will often be forced to use federal tax moneys to remove these woody materials, only to dispose of the material by burning it.

Forest biomass fuel is a relatively clean source of energy, releasing only minuscule amounts of carbon dioxide gas when harnessed during the energy production stage and does not contribute to acid rain pollution. Minute particle emissions from the process are controlled through standard emission control systems and the ash byproduct, which accounts for less than 1% of the original mass, can be used as a fertilizer.

http://www.house.gov/mcinnis/pr030403.htm