Dogwood Alliance and our partners have long been raising the biomass alarm worldwide. Educating elected officials about the dangerous biomass industry. Now US Congress is finally taking meaningful action. We welcome the new Forest Biomass Emissions Act.
The Forest Biomass Emissions Act is an important step. It protects forests and communities from this dirty industry. We want to thank the legislators leading the way.
These senators have sponsored the Senate bill:
- Cory Booker (D-NJ)
- Martin Heinrich (D-NM)
- Ed Markey (D-MA)
- Chris Van Hollen (D-MD)
- Elizabeth Warren (D-MA)
These representatives have sponsored the House resolution:
- Valerie Foushee (D-NC-4)
- Bennie Thompson (D-MS-2)
What would the Biomass Act do?
This Act requires the Environmental Protection Agency to:
- Study the health of communities living near forest biomass operations.
- Mandate data collection of biomass air and noise pollution. It will especially consider the race and economic status of nearby residents.
- Order government rulemaking to account for all this industry’s carbon emissions.
The biomass industry has destroyed over two million acres of Southern US forests. They have plans to increase production. They want to expand west. Biomass wood pellet plants produce dangerous air and noise pollution. Biomass pollution can cause cancer. It can also cause cardiovascular and respiratory illnesses.
Biomass production is harmful to our health and environment.
Communities near biomass plants are often low wealth communities of color. Local residents must wear masks or leave their windows closed to keep dust out. Industrial noise keeps them up at night. This is a grave environmental injustice.
We should be protecting forests around environmental justice communities. Not burning them for energy.
We must build support and pass this legislation. We need you to take action.
Take Action: Ask your representatives to co-sponsor the Forest Biomass Emissions Act.