| LEGISLATIVE AFFAIRS |
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National Woodland Owners Association
374 Maple Avenue E, Suite 310,
Vienna, VA 22180 • woodlandowners.org • 703-255-2700
January 9, 2008
Dear Senator Harkin,
As you and your colleagues on the Senate Agriculture Committee enter into joint conference
committee negotiations on the Farm Bill, the nation’s 10 million woodland owners urgently request
your assistance in correcting a serious error.
In the recently passed renewable energy bill, HR 6, the definition of renewable biomass specifically
discriminates against a majority of the nation’s private woodland owners. The vague definitions of
woodland types have the unintended consequence of discriminating against a significant portion
of America’s private forests, especially hardwoods, as a source of renewable biomass for the
rising biofuels industry. This should be an open market, not a forest plantation market.
We urge you to encourage sustainable forestry by expanding the definition of “Renewable
Biomass” in the Energy, Conservation, and Forestry titles of the bill. To the definition of ‘Renewable
Biomass,’ please add: ‘Hardwood and softwood trees and tree residues from forests.’
Woodland owners and biofuels producers will undoubtedly provide renewable fuel to meet the
nation’s Renewable Fuel Portfolio standard. While other producer groups constantly seek special
legislative advantages for their product, the nation’s woodland owners request this key
opportunity to compete on a level playing field. Given equal access to the rising biofuels markets,
woodland owners are willing to accept the prices that technology and free markets will provide for
our product.
Wood is now a strategic national asset capable of relieving some of our future dependence on
foreign oil; and it is a national strategic mistake to uniquely discourage or restrict its use for
biofuels production. The use of both public and private forestlands should be encouraged to meet
this national challenge.
Thank you for your consideration of this important matter.
Respectfully,
Keith Argow, President
National Woodland Owners Association