PPRC Position Paper on Fiber Supply

PPRC Position Paper on Green Jobs & Green Energy

The Forest Products Industry is the best provider of Green Jobs & Green Energy.

The American Forest Products Industry:

Absorbs and stores carbon dioxide from the equal to 10 percent of annual U.S. carbon emissions.
Generates 65 percent of their energy needs from renewable resources.
Has more carbon neutral co-generation capabilities than all other industries combined.
Has reduced its use of carbon-intensive fossil fuels and purchased energy per ton of product by 19 percent since 2000.

The Pulp and Paper Industry has a 10 to 1 employment advantage over a standalone biomass and energy

plant.
The PPRC recommends Congress:

Issue fully tradable credits in a Renewable Electricity Standard (RES) to forest products facilities for the renewable power they generate whether used onsite or sold to the grid.
Ensure that the definition of eligible biomass used in a RES includes the renewable biomass used by the forest products industry to manufacture its products and generate its power.
Recognize biomass fuels, should include bark, scrap wood, wood residuals and wood extractives from the pulping process instead of some of this waste being diverted to landfills.
Require that wood biomass used in a RES be developed under sustainable forest management practices and long term contracts are available for biomass supplies.

The PPRC is a grassroots organization representing the interests of the nation's pulp, paper, solid wood products, and other natural resource-based workers. The U.S. forest products industry is vitally important to our nation's economy, employing 1 million people. We rank among the top 10 manufactures in 48 states with annual sales exceeding $230 billion, which accounts for 7% of the U.S. manufacturing shipments. We are people dedicated to conserving the environment while taking into account the economic stability of the workforce and surrounding community.

08-31-09