On February 13, EPA Administrator Scott Pruitt met with New Hampshire Governor Sununu and members of the forest industry. At the meeting, Pruitt announced plans implement a Congressional directive BTEC helped create to treat forest based biomass energy as carbon neutral. Charlie Niebling of Innovative Natural Resource Solutions, LLC, and BTEC Board Director, attended the event with Pruitt.
Pruitt also said that the Agency will clarify its procurement recommendations and suggested recognizing the American Tree Farm System and the Sustainable Forestry Initiative procurement programs to align with the USDA’s BioPreferred Program. Currently EPA only recognizes the Forest Stewardship Council in its procurement practices.
This positive development is huge for BTEC’s biomass carbon neutrality advocacy efforts.