Biomass Renewable Feedstock Expansion

Full Title:
Wildfire Reduction Market Expansion Act of 2026

Summary#

This bill changes the Clean Air Act definition of "renewable biomass" used for the renewable fuel standard (the federal program that sets targets for biofuels). The main change is to broaden which woody and vegetation materials can count as renewable biomass. The bill aims to expand markets for biomass that comes from wildfire risk reduction, forest manufacturing residues, and certain public and tribal lands.

  • Main change: adds trees, shrubs, and other vegetation removed for fuel reduction, defensible space, or from forest- or wood-product operations to the list of materials that can qualify as renewable biomass.
  • Certification added: allows a simple letter attestation or certification to the EPA Administrator from a non-Federal landowner or the local USDA/Interior office to verify that materials qualify.
  • Public lands: allows materials from National Forests and other public lands to qualify if the Agriculture or Interior Secretary certifies they are by-products, not suitable as sawlogs, and consistent with applicable forest plans and laws.
  • Tribal and Alaska Native Corporation land: explicitly includes tribal lands and Alaska Native Corporation land in the definition.
  • Defensible space and wildland-urban interface: vegetation removed within defensible space around structures or from wildfire risk reduction in the wildland-urban interface is included.
  • Savings clause: a forest plan or resource management plan does not have to mention biomass or renewable fuel as an intended use for the material to qualify.

What is unclear: the bill does not detail how EPA will verify attestations, how disputes are handled, how lifecycle greenhouse gas impacts are measured, or how often agencies must provide certifications.

What it means for you#

  • Biofuel producers and renewable fuel refiners

    • Could have access to more types of woody feedstock that qualify under the renewable fuel standard.
    • May be able to generate more renewable fuel credits (RINs) if they convert these materials to eligible fuels.

  • Forest managers and timber companies

    • Materials from manufacturing (sawdust, chips, paper residuals) are explicitly included.
    • More low-value residues and by-products may find commercial demand.

  • Private landowners and land managers

    • Owners who remove trees or shrubs for long-term timber production, or who are in a certified forestry program or taxed as forest land, can attestate that removed material qualifies.
    • May gain new markets for removed woody material from fuel-reduction activities or defensible-space work.

  • Tribes and Alaska Native Corporations

    • Their lands are explicitly included, so materials removed for wildfire reduction may qualify.

  • Federal land managers (US Forest Service, BLM)

    • Local offices of USDA or Interior can certify that materials from federal lands are by-products of management activities and not suitable as sawlogs.
    • May face new requests to provide certifications.

  • Local governments and homeowners

    • Vegetation removed to create defensible space around homes or infrastructure could qualify if removal follows local law or the International Wildland-Urban Interface Code where no local law exists.

  • Wildfire mitigation contractors

    • Could see increased demand for removal, collection, and sale of woody debris if those materials become eligible feedstocks.

If you are not in one of these groups, the bill mainly affects government and industry processes and has little direct daily impact.

Expenses#

No publicly available information.

  • The bill text does not include a fiscal note or cost estimate.
  • Possible but unquantified costs: additional staff time for local USDA or Interior offices to issue certifications; EPA time to receive and review attestations; administrative steps for landowners to provide attestations.
  • Possible new revenue to private landowners and businesses from selling eligible biomass, but no estimate is provided.

Proponents' View#

The bill appears intended to expand available feedstocks for renewable fuels while encouraging wildfire risk reduction.

  • The bill appears intended to create markets for low-value woody material from fuel reduction and defensible-space activities.
  • Supporters may argue this could increase incentives to remove hazardous fuels and support forest-health projects by providing a buyer for removed material.
  • It clarifies that tribal lands and Alaska Native Corporation lands are eligible, widening participation.
  • The certification/attestation option could be seen as a practical way to document eligibility without lengthy federal approvals.
  • The savings clause could be viewed as preventing technicalities in forest plans from blocking use of materials for biofuels.

Opponents' View#

The bill raises several possible concerns based on its text and gaps in detail.

  • One concern is that the standard "not reasonably suitable for use as a sawlog" is vague and gives wide discretion to Secretaries, which could lead to disputes over which material is eligible.
  • The bill does not set rules for EPA verification of attestations, raising questions about fraud or false claims and how compliance would be enforced.
  • There is little detail on environmental safeguards; critics may worry increased market demand could encourage removal of biomass beyond what is needed for wildfire safety or forest health.
  • Administrative burden: local USDA/Interior offices may face extra workload to issue certifications without extra funding.
  • The bill does not address greenhouse gas lifecycle accounting; it is unclear whether materials counted under this definition will meet any specific climate or emissions tests under the renewable fuel program.