Industry Critical of EPA Boiler Rule that Hurts Biomass Energy

Date: June 10, 2010

Source: News Room

The Biomass Power Association (BPA), among others in the biomass industry, are criticizing EPA's proposed strict air toxics standard for boilers, saying the regulation will impose costly controls on biomass that will deter investment in renewable energy projects. "This rule is unfortunate and inconsistent with the administration's stated goal of supporting biomass," said Bob Cleaves, president and CEO of BPA in a June 8 teleconference. On April 30th, the EPA proposed a maximum achievable control technology (MACT) that would limit air toxics emissions from boilers, part of a broader package proposed the same day that also includes an air toxics rule for incinerators, and a proposal to redefine what qualifies as waste combusted in incinerators. Cleaves said the proposal would have substantial adverse economic impacts on the forest products industry, which stands to lose $7 billion in lost revenues as a result of the rule. He said it contradicts efforts by the Commerce Department to promote the sale of U.S. biomass power technologies in global markets when those technologies would be rendered economically unfeasible in the domestic market if the EPA proposal is finalized.

The Biomass Power Association: www.biomasspowerassociation.com.

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