A proposal to turn more leftover material from logging projects into renewable energy is reemerging in Congress after hitting a roadblock in the farm bill last spring.
Sens. Jeff Merkley (D-Ore.) and Cindy Hyde-Smith (R-Miss.) introduced legislation to make woody biomass from trees and shrubs a bigger part of the renewable fuel standard, which encourages alternatives to fossil fuels for transportation.
The Wildfire Reduction Markets Expansion Act would change the definition of “woody biomass” in the standard to encourage the use of small-diameter material that could be converted to fuel, including for aircraft. The material is taken from forests in thinning projects to reduce the risk of wildfire.
Reps. Cliff Bentz (R-Ore.) and Bennie Thompson (D-Miss.) introduced a companion bill.
