A Carbon Accounting System for the Future

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August 15, 2014

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(25 x ’25) Making sure the federal accounting system for biogenic carbon emissions—ensuring that it is an accurate system, and taking into scientific account the unique features of biomass in the carbon cycle is front and center for over 100 agriculture, forestry and energy organizations.
Led by a core group of 25 x ’25 partners, these organizations came together to raise the issue of carbon accounting for biomass, asking in a letter to John Podesta, Counselor to President Obama to seek the release of the draft EPA policy on biomass carbon accounting in order to secure its rightful place in our nation’s energy portfolio. EPA is currently finalizing the CO2 accounting framework the agency will use to assess biomass-derived fuels and their net atmospheric contribution of CO2 related to their growth, harvest and use. Given the fact that EPA expects states to use the framework as a resource in developing their own CCA section 111 (d) plans, it is imperative that this framework be based on sound science.
The goal of the organizations is to educate and advise the administration on the unique nature of biomass in the carbon cycle. Bioenergy accounting and policy must recognize that fossil carbon, once mined and combusted, is an irreversible addition of ancient carbon to the atmosphere. Meanwhile, the combustion of biomass returns an equal and opposite quantity of previously sequestered carbon dioxide to the atmosphere which supports the growth of a new cycle of biomass resources. READ MORE

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