catf_filings_biomass_engoresponselettersecretaryvilsack-97da7f21c3360d4f.pdf

The document argues that biomass energy, specifically wood pellets exported from the U.S. to the UK, does not provide significant greenhouse gas benefits and may actually increase carbon pollution. It disputes USDA claims regarding forest growth in the Southern U.S., attributing reported increases to changes in surveying and categorization rather than new planting. Additionally, it warns that the demand for wood pellets threatens southeastern bottomland hardwood forests and misrepresents modeling studies as retrospective evidence of forest growth.

• The authors contest the claim that biomass generation provides significant greenhouse gas benefits to the UK, stating that wood-burning power plants emit more carbon pollution at the smokestack than fossil-fueled plants per unit of energy generated.
• The document asserts that the net additional carbon pollution from bioenergy remains in the atmosphere for years or decades, and that using whole trees or large woody residues for wood pellets generates greenhouse gas impacts far exceeding those of coal.
• The reported increase of 55 million acres of forested land in the southern United States between 2007 and 2012 is attributed to the inclusion of newly surveyed land in Texas and Oklahoma and the reclassification of arid "woodland" as "forest," rather than rapid expansion through new planting.
• U.S. wood pellet exports to Europe increased significantly after 2012, growing from 1.6 million tons in 2012 to 3.2 million tons in 2013, with nearly three-quarters of all U.S. wood pellet exports delivered to the UK in 2014.
• The authors argue that the USDA misrepresented modeling studies from Duke University and North Carolina State University as retrospective evidence of increased forest area, whereas the studies actually explored the effects of possible future policies.

APA

Clean Air Task Force (2016). catf_filings_biomass_engoresponselettersecretaryvilsack-97da7f21c3360d4f.pdf. https://cdn.catf.us/wp-content/uploads/2018/09/21094339/CATF_Filings_Biomass_ENGOResponseLetterSecretaryVilsack.pdf

Chicago

Clean Air Task Force. catf_filings_biomass_engoresponselettersecretaryvilsack-97da7f21c3360d4f.pdf. 2016. https://cdn.catf.us/wp-content/uploads/2018/09/21094339/CATF_Filings_Biomass_ENGOResponseLetterSecretaryVilsack.pdf.

Wikipedia

{{cite press release |author=Clean Air Task Force |title=catf_filings_biomass_engoresponselettersecretaryvilsack-97da7f21c3360d4f.pdf |date=13 July 2016 |url=https://cdn.catf.us/wp-content/uploads/2018/09/21094339/CATF_Filings_Biomass_ENGOResponseLetterSecretaryVilsack.pdf |access-date=23 October 2026 |via=Climate Insights Directory}}

BibTeX

@misc{cleanairtaskforce2016catffilingsbiomassengoresponselettersecretaryvilsack97da7f21c3360d4fpdf, author = {{Clean Air Task Force}}, title = {{catf\_filings\_biomass\_engoresponselettersecretaryvilsack-97da7f21c3360d4f.pdf}}, publisher = {Clean Air Task Force}, year = {2016}, month = jul, url = {https://cdn.catf.us/wp-content/uploads/2018/09/21094339/CATF_Filings_Biomass_ENGOResponseLetterSecretaryVilsack.pdf}, urldate = {2026-10-23}, note = {Indexed by Climate Insights Directory} }