AF&PA and American Wood Council Applaud DC Circuit Court in Waiting for Supreme Court Ruling

Friday, November 15, 2013

Press release from the issuing company

WASHINGTON – The American Forest & Paper Association (AF&PA) President and CEO Donna Harman and American Wood Council (AWC) President and CEO Robert Glowinski released the following statements in response to the DC Circuit Court’s decision to wait for the Supreme Court before proceeding with the Biogenic Deferral case.

“We are pleased that the DC Circuit Court has granted our request to delay issuance of the mandate in the Biomass Deferral rule case pending completion of the Supreme Court’s review. It is important that the Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) continue its work in finalizing the Biogenic Accounting Framework, which should affirm that bioenergy from forest products manufacturing residuals is carbon neutral.”

“About two-thirds of the energy used by the forest products industry comes from biomass residuals that would have decayed anyway. Using biomass residues for energy production takes advantage of energy value that would otherwise be lost to the atmosphere.”

“Science clearly shows that CO2 emissions from burning manufacturing residuals, like sawdust and bark, are carbon neutral. Given that 78 percent of energy for wood products mills comes from biomass, it is important for the EPA to continue their review.”