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Public Policy

Today, the United States has sustainable, renewable biomass resources and the technology, appliances and companies to scale widespread biomass thermal adoption. We support thermal biomass as a low carbon, low cost, domestically produced fuel that can transform the way American’s heat their homes. While other renewable technologies, like the solar and wind energy industries, have received significant subsidies from the government, biomass has largely been overlooked by public policy makers. Now, thanks to a renewed focus on the opportunities in the renewable space for job creation, green house gas reduction, and energy cost savings for consumers, thermal biomass has caught the attention of leading lawmakers, economists and environmentalists. Public policies are now shifting to promote the widespread adoption of thermal biomass heating.

Promising Federal and State Programs:

• PACE (Property Assessed Clean Energy) Finance – This breakthrough financing idea has been adopted in 18 states in the last year. In PACE districts, municipalities lend capital to property owners to invest in energy efficiency and renewable energy system retrofits. This money is repaid to the municipality over the life of the improvement through a special assessment included in the property tax bill. PACE distributes the considerable upfront costs of a retrofit over the lifetime of the system so homeowners enjoy savings in the first year. PACE is an opt-in program; it offers incredible benefits for those who enroll, but costs taxpayers nothing if they don’t participate. For more information on PACE programs or to learn about how to support a PACE district in your area, visit www.pacenow.org.
• Federal Energy Tax Credit – This standard incentive program offers homeowners a 30% federal tax credit on eligible installations, up to $1,500 per household. Biomass stoves and appliances are eligible. To find out more, visit www.energystar.gov.
• Cash for Caulkers – Just as "Cash for Clunkers" spurred us to trade in our inefficient cars for cleaner models, this innovative program would offer a 50% cash rebate on renewable energy appliance systems, installation, and energy audits. In the proposed legislation, wood pellet biomass heating systems would qualify for the rebate. This proposal is on track to be part of the next stimulus package and would allow homeowners to switch from fossil fuel-based heat to clean, renewable, biomass heat.
• Low Carbon Fuel Standard – NESCAUM, the clean air coalition of the Unites States, has demonstrated impressive work in coordinating development of a low carbon fuel standard for the Northeast. While we recognize that the principal focus of a LCFS is its potential application to transportation fuels, we congratulate the Northeast’s Governors and NESCAUM for remaining receptive to inclusion of heating fuels in a regional LCFS. Including heating oil in the low carbon fuel standard would help address the region’s costly dependence on foreign heating oil and would pave the way for a comprehensive, low carbon fuel infrastructure in the Northeast.

Thermal Biomass has grown exponentially in Europe, thanks to well designed subsidies that allow biomass technologies to compete on an even playing field with other renewable energies. Europe has shown that smart incentives can build an industry that helps the environment, creates jobs, and fosters energy independence.

To learn about how you can help spark a clean heating revolution in the US, click here.