The biomass industry received no special treatment in the greenhouse gas emissions rules finalized by the EPA last week.
Power plants that burn biomass to generate power, instead of fossil fuels like coal or natural gas, will be subject to the same cap-and-trade scenario–despite their carbon-neutral status.
Forestry groups say the rule will incentivize biomass-fired power plants to switch to fossil fuels, which provide a more dense power source relative to the emissions.
The EPA may still add exceptions to the rule for biomass-fired power plants. But the issue isn’t clear cut. Some environmentalists question the logic of biomass generation, which–despite being carbon neutral–produces significant air pollution and may lead to irresponsible forestry practices.
Franz Matzner, a policy analyst for the Natural Resources Defense Council, told Greenwire that EPA’s rule must distinguish between biomass that creates carbon pollution and biomass that does not.
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