November 10, 2009 – (Washington, DC) The Biomass Thermal Energy Council (BTEC), the Pellet Fuels Institute (PFI), and the Alliance for Green Heat briefed a combined audience of Democrat and Republican congressional staffers about the benefits and viability of biomass thermal energy.

The briefing, held November 6, 2009, addressed a standing room only audience of individuals interested in biomass energy, including representatives from 16 congressional offices, two Senate committees and the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency.

“The goal of the briefing was to help policymakers understand biomass heating as a cost-effective way to meet our goals of energy independence and addressing issues of climate change,” said Jon Strimling, President of WoodPellets.com and BTEC Government Affairs Committee chairman. “We are excited about the level of interest we’re seeing in utilizing clean, renewable resources for heating, and we look forward to continued progress in Washington.”

As a source of heat, biomass thermal energy, made from wood and other renewable resources, accounts for a third of the nation’s energy use. “Yet, biomass for heating has traditionally been overlooked. Cellulosic ethanol and biomass used for electricity generation receive the lion’s share of government assistance even though biomass thermal accounts for one-third of this country’s energy usage—and is more efficient than either of the two.” said Bruce Lisle, President, Biofuel Technologies and PFI Government Affairs Committee chairman. “Biomass thermal energy is the most convenient and economical form of renewable energy that consumers can take advantage of immediately and policy-makers are taking notice.”

With the appropriate public policy and tax structure, biomass – a sustainable energy – can help displace meaningful amounts of imported fossil fuels and reduce carbon emissions.

“The federal tax credit structure for residential renewable energy is backwards,” said John Ackerly, president, Alliance for Green Heat. “It heavily subsidizes solar and geothermal which wealthy families can afford, but barely subsidizes biomass stoves which low and middle income families can afford. Solar and biomass systems both reduce a family’s carbon footprint by 3 – 4 tons of carbon but the government gives about $3,000 of tax credits per ton of carbon for a solar system, but only $350 per ton for biomass.”

Recent federal legislation created a consumer tax credit of 30% up to $1,500 towards the purchase and installation of a biomass burning stove. For more information on the tax credit, go to http://www.pelletheat.org/3/residential/taxCredit.html.

The Biomass Thermal Energy Council (BTEC), located in Washington, DC, is a non-profit association dedicated to advancing the use of biomass for heat and other thermal energy applications. For more information visit www.biomassthermal.org

The Pellet Fuels Institute, located in Arlington, Virginia, is a non-profit association dedicated to promoting the use of wood pellets and other biomass fiber fuels. For more information visit www.pelletheat.org.

The Alliance For Green Heat, based outside of Washington, DC, is a non-profit group promoting biomass as a carbon neutral, sustainable and affordable heating solution. For more information visit www.forgreenheat.org