Westerman and Kuster Urge EPA to Provide Clarity for Biomass Plants

Press Release

This morning, Congressman Bruce Westerman (R-AR) and Congresswoman Annie Kuster (D-NH) sent a letter to the Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) requesting increased regulatory clarity for biomass producers across the country. Nineteen Members of Congress from both parties joined Westerman and Kuster in signing the letter.

By using organic material that would otherwise be landfilled or left to decay to generate electricity, biomass is an environmentally sound and cost-effective renewable energy source. Additionally, biomass producers are creating jobs for rural communities across the country, and these efforts should be supported. It is unclear how the EPA intends to treat biomass power moving forward, and Kuster and Westerman urged the EPA to quickly clarify to what extent biomass facilities will be subject to newly proposed carbon emission rules, and whether a partial or full-exemption would be considered. This regulatory information will provide biomass producers with the certainty they need to plan for future production.

"Biomass fuel is important to a growing renewable energy industry in the United States and abroad. We ask that the Environmental Protection Agency create a fair, clear set of regulations sooner rather than later so this industry can have certainty in their processes as they grow. A new industry that sequesters carbon, is environmentally sound, and is creating jobs deserves to be treated fairly and to know the rules upfront. That is what we are requesting from the EPA today," said Congressman Bruce Westerman.

"Biomass companies are doing an incredible job of turning unused material into an energy source, and they are creating jobs for workers across the country and in New Hampshire," said Congresswoman Annie Kuster. "Biomass producers need to know upfront how the EPA's proposed carbon emission rules will affect them, so these regulations do not come as a surprise and hinder their ability to expand, grow, and continue to hire American workers. I urge EPA to swiftly make it known how these rules will be applied to the biomass industry, and to consider partial- or full-exemption from these rules for sustainable biomass producers."

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