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AF&PA Disappointed in U.S. Department of the Treasury Final Rules for Technology-Neutral Clean Electricity Credits

Urges Recognition of Pulp and Paper Manufacturing Biomass Energy Systems

WASHINGTON – The American Forest & Paper Association (AF&PA) President and CEO Heidi Brock released the following statement in response to the U.S. Department of the Treasury and the IRS releasing final rules for the Clean Electricity Investment and Production Tax Credits.

“The U.S. Department of the Treasury’s (Treasury) final rule on clean electricity production and investment tax credits fails to recognize the carbon benefits of our industry’s biomass energy systems.  

“The pulp and paper industry’s biomass energy systems should qualify for these credits. Unfortunately, despite the extensive comments and scientific literature we submitted in the record, Treasury declined to address the issue at this time.

“We urge the Trump administration to work with policymakers to resolve this harmful regulatory uncertainty regarding the carbon benefits of our biomass energy systems.”

The American Forest & Paper Association (AF&PA) serves to advance public policies that foster economic growth, job creation and global competitiveness for a vital sector that makes the essential paper and packaging products Americans use every day. The U.S. forest products industry employs more than 925,000 people, largely in rural America, and is among the top 10 manufacturing sector employers in 44 states. Our industry accounts for approximately 4.7% of the total U.S. manufacturing GDP, manufacturing more than $435 billion in products annually. AF&PA member companies are significant producers and users of renewable biomass energy and are committed to making sustainable products for a sustainable future through the industry’s decades-long initiative — Better Practices, Better Planet 2030