NASF joined numerous diverse organizations in a coalition letter to Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) Administrator Gina McCarthy regarding the recent ruling by a U.S. Court of Appeals vacating EPA's Deferral Rule for biogenic carbon emissions under the Tailoring Rule. The letter addressed the uncertainty now faced by biomass and forest products facilities that have begun operations, construction, or major modifications since the July 20, 2011 effective date of the Deferral Rule.
The coalition recommended that any provisions under the Tailoring Rule concerning biogenic fuel sources should be simple, practical, science-based, and fully capture the long-term carbon benefits of biomass energy. The letter also urged the EPA to quickly complete amendments to the Tailoring Rule that recognize the carbon benefits of biogenic fuel sources.