The Honorable Henry Waxman
Chairman
House Energy and Commerce Committee

The Honorable Joe Barton
Ranking Member
House Energy and Commerce Committee

Dear Chairman Waxman and Ranking Member Barton:

As Congress considers energy and climate change legislation, we urge you to appropriately include renewable forest biomass as an energy source to meet a renewable electricity standard (RES) should one be adopted. Forest biomass is plentiful, carbon-neutral and essential to meet the RES standard, particularly in areas of the country that are not able to produce energy from other renewable sources, like wind and solar.

America's 425 million acres of private forestland are uniquely suited to help meet our nation's renewable energy needs. Renewable forest biomass from these lands could provide as much as one-third of the energy needed to meet an RES. The addition of biomass from hazardous fuels reduction and restoration projects on public lands increases the overall contribution of our nation's forests to our renewable energy goals. Overall, biomass harvesting from both public and private forests will make important and timely contribution to the health of our forests - improving wildlife habitat, aiding adaptation, and reducing catastrophic wildfires that emit millions of tons of CO2 and other GHGs each year.

However, in order for renewable forest biomass to make a full contribution to an RES, legislation must provide an inclusive definition of biomass with appropriate measures to maintain sustainability and high conservation priority forests. Definitions, such as the 2007 nergy Independence and Security Act, which significantly restrict the use of most renewable orest biomass, negate the many benefits of this critical energy source, including its contributions o lower carbon emissions, and jeopardize our renewable energy goals. We support an approach to eligible forest biomass that:

• Includes renewable forest biomass from all forest types and ownerships
• Relies on forest practices established at the state and local level, rather than creating new
• federal mandates, land use zoning or overly complex definitions
• Defines sustainable practices using existing tools, such as state water quality Best
• Management Practices, with proven effectiveness
• Protects wildlife, water, soils and unique places through established and trusted public
• processes that rely on state and local knowledge and expertise
• Allows for forest-health related harvests from National Forests and BLM lands
• Studies the impact of the RES on forest resources at the landscape level and takes corrective measures if and when they are needed.

While the undersigned have endorsed various approaches for addressing renewable biomass in an RES, all agree that it is essential that the definition ultimately adopted adheres to these principles. Such an approach will help meet our renewable energy needs, maintain forest sustainability and garner the support of a broad range of interests.
Sincerely,

25x'25
Adage
American Farm Bureau Federation
American Forest Foundation
American Forest Resource Council
American Loggers Council
Archery Trade Association
Associated California Loggers
Associated Logging Contractors of Idaho
Associated Oregon Loggers
Association of Consulting Foresters of America
Association of Equipment Manufacturers
Biomass Coordinating Council, American
Council On Renewable Energy
Boone and Crockett Club
California Forestry Association
Chesapeake Bay Commission
Congressional Sportsmen's Foundation
Conservation Force
Dallas Safari Club
Deere & Company
Empire State Forest Products Association
Environmental and Energy Study Institute
Family Forest Foundation
Flathead Economic Policy Center
Forest Landowners Association
Hardwood Federation
Intermountain Forest Association
Kentucky Forest Industries Association
Komatsu Forest LLC
Louisiana Forestry Association
Michigan Association of Timbermen
Michigan Forest Products Council
Missouri Forest Products Association
Montana Logging Association
National Alliance of Forest Owners
National Association of Conservation Districts
National Association of Counties
National Association of Forest Service Retirees
National Association of State Foresters
National Association of University Forest
Resources Programs
National Cattleman's Beef Association
National Forest Counties and Schools Coalition
National Trappers Association
National Wild Turkey Federation
National Woodland Owners Association
North American Bear Foundation
Northern Arizona Loggers Association
Oregon Forest Industries Council
Oregon Small Woodlands Association
Professional Logging Contractors of Maine
Public Lands Council
Quality Deer Management Association
Rocky Mountain Elk Foundation
Safari Club International
Society of American Foresters
South Carolina Forestry Association
Texas Forestry Association
Texas Wildlife Association
The Catch-A-Dream Foundation
Theodore Roosevelt Conservation Partnership
Tigercat Industries Inc.
Virginia Forest Products Association
Virginia Loggers Association
Washington Contract Loggers Association
Washington Farm Forestry Association
Washington Forest Protection Association
Wildlife Management Institute