First-of-its-kind, free resource helps identify woody biomass feedstock requirements to enable environmental credits generation and further the commercialization of forestry waste-derived renewable fuels
Columbia, Louisiana – September 18, 2024 – Strategic Biofuels, a renewable fuels project development company, announced the publication of its free resource, “A Practical Guide to Forestry Feedstock Under the Renewable Fuel Standard.” This first-of-its-kind practical guide aims to help guide project developers in understanding the compliance requirements for forestry feedstock with the Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) regulations under the federal Renewable Fuel Standard (RFS). The publication was the culmination of work Strategic Biofuels conducted under a cooperative agreement signed with the USDA Forest Service (U.S. Forest Service) in 2022.
After realizing the guidance was unclear, Strategic Biofuels gathered input from the EPA, Weaver & Tidwell (Weaver), the USDA Forest Service, other project developers, foresters, loggers, and related industry stakeholders to develop this practical guide. It is aimed at identifying the practical qualification requirements for forestry feedstock to aid in establishing a strong set of standards for the tracking system that enables the forestry feedstock sector to supply raw data that can accurately and conveniently be transmitted to the biofuel producer and validated by a third-party auditor for EPA compliance.
“Establishing a system and best practice to utilize abundant forestry feedstock became a necessity instead of a nice-to-have, and we are proud to share this guide with the industry at no cost through our partnership with the USDA Forest Service,” said Dr. Paul Schubert, CEO of Strategic Biofuels. “When it became clear to us that there was nothing like this guide during our own process with the EPA, we knew we had to support the industry by putting all of our work into this practical guide to save other developers and loggers critical time and effort as they plan and finance their own projects.”
“Woody biomass is a valuable and sustainable natural resource, and sustainably sourcing this material makes our forests healthier and reduces wildfire risks,” said USDA Forest Service Chief Randy Moore. “We have partnered with Strategic Biofuels to develop this guide, which provides needed clarity to the industry and will help to strengthen markets for woody biomass, support local economies in our nation’s forestry industry, and meet our goals to confront the ongoing wildfire crisis.”
The guide provides details on the information and documentation required for woody biomass to qualify for use as feedstock under the RFS. These include how to plan and manage feedstock supply, harvest the materials from logging operations, qualify thinnings and other materials, navigate areas at risk of wildfire, manage tribal lands, understand Strategic Biofuels’ current views on woody biomass supply, and map out decisions via a matrix. The guide also includes a two-part appendix that outlines key definitions and reporting information and resources.
Paul Oesterreich, Strategic Biofuels’ VP of Project Development added, “While we will put the guide into practice at our Louisiana Green Fuels project, which will produce the world’s lowest carbon footprint Sustainable Aviation Fuel (SAF) once in operation, we encourage other developers to leverage it as a starting point but know that it is critical that they work with the EPA and third-party compliance auditors directly. There are specifications required for individually intended feedstocks that should be reviewed by those organizations.”
For access to the full guide, visit this page.
About the U.S. Forest Service
The USDA Forest Service has for more than 100 years brought people and communities together to answer the call of conservation. Grounded in world-class science and technology– and rooted in communities–the Forest Service connects people to nature and to each other. The Forest Service cares for shared natural resources in ways that promote lasting economic, ecological, and social vitality. The agency manages 193 million acres of public land, provides assistance to state and private landowners, maintains the largest forestry research organization in the world. The Forest Service also has either a direct or indirect role in stewardship of about 900 million forested acres within the U.S., of which over 130 million acres are urban forests where most Americans live.
About Strategic Biofuels
Strategic Biofuels is a renewable fuels project development company focused on advancing ultra carbon negative footprint Sustainable Aviation Fuel (SAF) plants. The company’s first project, Louisiana Green Fuels, will leverage onsite carbon capture and sequestration and be powered by green energy from an integrated biomass-fired power plant to convert sustainably managed forestry waste into the world’s most eco-friendly (SAF).