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Federal Policy Advocacy

The Pellet Fuels Institute represents wood pellet manufacturers before Congress, federal agencies, and the administration, advocating for policies that recognize the environmental and economic value of the pellet fuel industry. Each year, PFI members travel to Washington, D.C. for an annual legislative fly-in, meeting directly with members of Congress and their staff to advance the industry's priorities on Capitol Hill. Beyond the fly-in, PFI maintains ongoing engagement with the agencies that regulate and support the industry — including the EPA, USDA, and Department of Energy — submitting comments on proposed rulemaking, providing technical and economic data to inform agency decision-making, and working with administration officials to ensure biomass energy is treated fairly within the broader federal energy policy landscape. The priorities below reflect the issues PFI is actively pursuing across all three channels of engagement.

Members of the Pellet Fuels Institute meet with Rep. Glen 'GT" Thompson (PA-15) during a Congressional Fly-In.

L to R: Dylan O'Donnell (Timber Products Inspection), Stephen Faehner (American Wood Fibers), Rep. Thompson, Alison Snider (Lignetics), Tim Portz (PFI), Jim VerBeke (Hearth & Home Technologies) and Matt Klein (Easy Heat). 

Generally

  • Support federal regulatory language affirming biomass as a carbon-neutral, renewable energy source
  • Protect consumers' right to heat their homes using wood and wood pellet appliances that comply with emissions limits outlined in federal regulations
  • Reestablish and expand tax credits for qualifying wood heat appliances

Specifically

Renewable Fuel Standard

  • Amend the RFS's definition of “renewable biomass” (40 CFR 80.1401) to include mill residuals — the primary feedstock wood pellet manufacturers purchase and process every day. Getting mill residuals recognized in the federal code is the threshold step toward a wood pellet RIN pathway under the RFS, and it establishes a definition federal agencies can point to in other biomass-related rulemaking going forward.
  • Direct the EPA to authorize a dedicated RIN-generating pathway for wood pellet producers once that definition is in place

Consumer Fuel Choice

  • Support the Energy Choice Act (H.R. 3699 / S. 1945), which protects consumers' right to choose how they heat their homes at the federal level. A growing number of states have passed or proposed legislation restricting access to certain fuel types and appliances, limiting the ability of households to choose wood and wood pellet heat — this bill would preempt that trend nationally.

Farm Bill

  • Support the continuation of the Wood Innovations and Community Wood Energy grant programs
  • Support the ongoing inclusion of the Advanced Biofuels Payment Program

Tax Credits

  • Support restoration of the Section 25C tax credit for qualifying wood pellet appliances

Stove Regulation

  • Support maintaining the current, consensus-based testing methodology under EPA's ongoing NSPS Subpart AAA review