Washington, D.C.– On Tuesday, March 3 Senate Finance Committee Ranking Member Ron Wyden (D) - Oregon introduced an amendment to the American Energy Innovation Act which is expected to be taken up for debate by the Senate this week. Wyden’s amendment includes provisions from the Biomass Thermal Utilization Act most notably a 30% tax credit for qualifying pellet stoves and boilers.

“Without Senator Wyden’s amendment biomass thermal energy would once again find itself conspicuously absent from energy policy reform,” said PFI Executive Director Tim Portz. “We’re grateful that Wyden recognizes the role that clean, renewable pellet heating can and should play in this country’s comprehensive energy strategy.”

Wyden’s amendment also seeks to expand or extend tax credits for elective vehicles, offshore wind, energy storage, waste heat, and renewable electricity production.

In late October of 2019, the Pellet Fuels Institute hosted a fly-in to speak with elected representatives about the wood pellet industry, how it connects to the broader forest products sector and the role it is currently playing in clean energy production in the United States. “Our story in October was the same as it has been since we’ve been going to the Hill. Thermal energy is the forgotten third leg of the energy stool and as a result, biomass thermal solutions are often left out of important energy legislation,” said Portz.

Ron Wyden’s was one of 16 senatorial offices visited by PFI membership during their fly-in.

“It is gratifying to know that our message is beginning to be heard and we applaud Senator Wyden on his efforts to include biomass thermal in this important piece of energy policy,” said Portz. “We’re hopeful that the bi-partisan appeal and endorsement of wood heat that we felt during our fly-in translates into a fair hearing of this amendment as this legislation is debated in the Senate in the coming weeks.”

More about the amendment, an executive summary, and a section-by-section summary can be found here.

About the Pellet Fuels Institute

The Pellet Fuels Institute (PFI) is a trade association representing the manufacturers of wood pellets in the United States and the companies and organizations that support them. The PFI is dedicated to raising awareness about the benefits of using wood pellets to heat homes, businesses and institutions and ensuring that consistent, high-quality product is readily available in the marketplace.