Federal Forests and the Renewable Fuel Standard

The document advocates for amending the Energy Independence and Security Act of 2007 to include federal forest residues as eligible feedstocks for the Renewable Fuel Standard (RFS). It argues that utilizing these materials would provide a sustainable source of cellulosic biofuels without the indirect greenhouse gas emissions associated with agricultural land displacement. Furthermore, the author contends that creating markets for small-diameter trees through the RFS would make hazardous fuel reduction and forest restoration more cost-effective, reducing the risk of catastrophic wildfires and improving ecosystem health.

• The Energy Independence and Security Act of 2007 (EISA) mandates the production of 36 billion gallons of renewable fuels by 2022, with 21 billion gallons required to be advanced biofuels. To qualify, new facilities must achieve a minimum 20 percent reduction in lifecycle emissions compared to petroleum fuels, while advanced and cellulosic fuels must meet 50 percent and 60 percent screens, respectively.
• The current legal definition of 'renewable biomass' excludes thinning materials and woody residues from federal forests, despite the potential for 5.2-7.5 million dry tons of forest biomass to be sustainably generated from hazardous fuel reduction treatments in western states.
• Unlike agricultural biofuel feedstocks, which can cause indirect greenhouse gas emissions through the displacement of food production and subsequent deforestation of rainforests and wetlands, woody biomass from existing federal forests does not impact the supply of agricultural commodities.
• Utilizing woody biomass for fuel can facilitate hazardous fuels reduction, which decreases the likelihood of destructive crown fires and reduces the emission of greenhouse gases associated with large, stand-replacing fires, which can emit over 2 tons of carbon per hectare.
• Thinning small-diameter trees provides ecological benefits beyond fire risk reduction, including improved tree vigor, increased drought tolerance, reduced insect infestation lethality, and enhanced wildlife habitat and watershed water yield.
• The feasibility of forest thinning is currently limited by inadequate federal budgets and a lack of markets for small-diameter trees; the RFS could provide the necessary markets to make these management tools affordable.

APA

Environmental and Energy Study Institute (2008). Federal Forests and the Renewable Fuel Standard. https://www.eesi.org/files/federal_forests_rfs_factsheet_eesi_071708.pdf

Chicago

Environmental and Energy Study Institute. Federal Forests and the Renewable Fuel Standard. 2008. https://www.eesi.org/files/federal_forests_rfs_factsheet_eesi_071708.pdf.

Wikipedia

{{cite report |author=Environmental and Energy Study Institute |title=Federal Forests and the Renewable Fuel Standard |date=17 July 2008 |url=https://www.eesi.org/files/federal_forests_rfs_factsheet_eesi_071708.pdf |access-date=23 October 2026 |via=Climate Insights Directory}}

BibTeX

@techreport{environmentalandenergystudyinstitute2008federal, author = {{Environmental and Energy Study Institute}}, title = {{Federal Forests and the Renewable Fuel Standard}}, institution = {Environmental and Energy Study Institute}, year = {2008}, month = jul, url = {https://www.eesi.org/files/federal_forests_rfs_factsheet_eesi_071708.pdf}, urldate = {2026-10-23}, note = {Indexed by Climate Insights Directory} }