Much-Needed Legislation Would Protect Biomass Industry and Ensure Americans’ Continued Access to Dependable Renewable Energy Source
Background
Currently, there are few established incentives for clean energy sources – in fact, the current market and political landscape may even disfavor the use of alternatives. Whether you call it a Clean Energy Standard (CES) or a Renewable Energy Standard (RES), the goal is simple and widely shared: As a Nation, we need to grow and diversify our baseload energy sources, and encourage sources of energy, like biomass, that contribute to rural economies and enhance the long term viability of our forests, farms, and environment.
In the 111th Congress, advocates for a renewable electricity standard built significant awareness and momentum around a national energy policy among a bipartisan group of policymakers, media, and third party stakeholders. Building on that progress, with recognition of the politics of the moment, President Obama called for 80 percent of America’s energy to be produced from clean sources by 2035 in his 2011 State of the Union address.
The Biomass Power Association fully supports this initiative, which would solidify the role of biomass and other renewables in the nation’s energy future.
How a CES Would Help the Biomass Industry – and the Nation
By requiring that a higher percentage of the nation’s energy come from renewable sources, Congress would be supporting an important industry that provides jobs to thousands of Americans who live in rural areas. Biomass is a steady, dependable renewable energy source that can easily complement and act as a hedge against energy from other sources. A CES would preserve the viability of existing facilities and allow entrepreneurs to open new biomass facilities where it makes sense, as well as contribute to local economies and provide local jobs.
Other Renewable Energy Industries Would Gain, Too
The Biomass Power Association is part of the Coalition for Clean and Renewable Energy (or “CCRE”) which is a wide-ranging group of energy stakeholders who believe that a carefullydesigned CES could drive near- and medium-term demand for clean and renewable energy that otherwise would depend on inconsistent and, in many cases, threatened federal incentives and state RPS targets. The CCRE is committed to advocating an affordable and effective national clean energy policy that will create American jobs, increase our competitiveness in the global marketplace and encourage a regionally-balanced approach that expands the use of renewables beyond business-as-usual.
The group’s diverse members agree that, while the final details of a policy have yet to be determined, America’s status quo on energy is no longer an acceptable option.