The development of national programs and policies to encourage woody biomass harvesting and utilization is moving forward rapidly, and is being driven by a number of factors. Energy security, development of renewable energy, combating global climate change, and wildfire risk reduction are national priorities, and the utilization of woody biomass plays a role in each, as well as in the management of long-term forest health. While the policies and programs currently in existence and in development all hold potential to expand a domestic woody biomass sector, they are inadequately addressing issues of scale, environmental impacts, social acceptance, public lands management, and rural economic development.

RVCC Key Recommendations:

1. Improve and extend Production Tax Credits and qualify thermal biomass energy when developing Renewable Portfolio Standards.
2. Create and fund a grant program to provide capacity building and technical assistance to communities and micro-businesses, and fund existing biomass grant programs.
3. Revise USFS and BLM performance measures and targets to encourage biomass harvesting from the treatment of priority acres identified through a collaborative process.
4. Grant budget and target flexibility and waive cancellation ceilings to facilitate the development of long-term stewardship contracts.