Enviva Inc., a leading producer of sustainably produced woody biomass, has issued a statement regarding the Dutch Parliament's motion on sustainably produced biomass, which was adopted in December 2022.
Enviva fully supports the principle that financial support should only be provided for woody biomass that has been sustainably sourced. As a U.S. manufacturer and exporter of wood pellets, it is critical to comply with all applicable rules and regulations in the markets in which they operate. The Netherlands is no exception.
In the motion that was adopted in the House of Representatives in mid-December 2022, the Dutch government is asked to ensure that no subsidies are provided to parties that do not meet sustainability criteria through proper certification. Enviva said it fully complies with these sustainability criteria, which require extensive independent auditing and certification – and as a result it does not expect any adverse economic impact.
“We have full confidence that the wood pellets we supply in the Netherlands meet Dutch sustainability criteria,” said Thomas Meth, President and Chief Executive Officer of Enviva. “Enviva's production is certified by the Sustainable Biomass Program (SBP), is checked annually and always meets the sustainability criteria of the Dutch Ministry of Climate.”
On the domestic front, President Biden recently signed into law a $1,7 trillion (€1,6 trillion) omnibus spending bill that recognizes forest bioenergy as a renewable energy source and declares it carbon neutral, provided its use of forest biomass for energy production does not result in forest conversion to non-forest uses, and directs federal agencies to “recognize the full benefits of using forest biomass for energy, conservation, and responsible forest management.”
The legislation further complements the U.S. government's investment in and support for energy security and climate change resources, as previously seen in the passage of the 2022 Inflation Reduction Act, which uses investments and tax credits to support the deployment of wind, encouraging solar and other renewable sources. energy sources, including sustainably produced biomass.
As expressed by a spokesperson for Senate Judiciary Committee Member Senator Susan Collins, “Recognizing the carbon neutrality of biomass is not only consistent with the science, but also encourages investments in working forests, harvesting operations, bioenergy, wood products and paper production. ”
Source: Enviva
