Congressman Bentz, Thompson, Merkley, Hyde-Smith Introduce "Wildfire Reduction Market Expansion Act of 2026"

July 24, 2026

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(Office of Congressman Cliff Bentz (R-OR 2nd)) Congressman Cliff Bentz (R-OR) and Congressman Bennie Thompson (D-MS) joined Senators Merkley (D-OR), and Hyde-Smith (R-MS) in introducing the “Wildfire Reduction Market Expansion Act of 2026”. This bipartisan legislation intends to expand the definition of biomass as found in the Clean Air Act to include additional low value woody materials generated through active forest management, hazardous fuels reduction, ecological restoration, and residuals from forest products manufacturing. This legislation continues Congressman Bentz’s efforts to better utilize the Renewable Fuel Standard so that it encourages conversion of forest biomass into usable fuel.

Said Congressman Bentz: “Hundreds of thousands of tons of new wood grow in Oregon’s forests each and every day, increasing the chance and the danger of cataclysmic wildfire. This danger can be reduced by removing brush and excess trees from the forests. Technology has found a way to convert wood into biofuel, so this wood does have value. The challenge, resolved by this bill, is to properly focus existing financial support systems on the removal, transport, and processing of qualified wood from our forests to processing facilities. This bill would provide financial support for such removal by expanding the Renewable Fuel Standard to include woody biomass removed from federal forest land. Removal of this biomass will reduce costs of fire suppression, protect forest health, and improve and preserve watersheds."

“This bipartisan legislation recognizes that healthy forests and strong rural economies go hand in hand. By creating new markets for woody biomass generated through responsible forest management, we can help reduce wildfire risk, support jobs in rural communities, and expand America's renewable fuel supply. This commonsense approach creates economic opportunity while helping protect our forests and natural resources for future generations.”, Said Congressman Bennie Thompson.

“Reducing wildfire risk demands innovative solutions and using all the tools at our disposal to invest in wildfire prevention efforts,” said Senator Merkley. “Woody biomass that comes from responsible forest management activities—like hazardous fuels reduction—presents a huge opportunity for communities in Oregon and across the nation. By updating the definition for these materials to qualify as renewable fuels, we can harness their power to create new markets for these materials, reducing wildfire risk and supporting healthier public, private, and Tribal lands.”

“This bipartisan bill creates avenues to help reduce the wildfire threats in the West but also clears the way for biomass produced from non-federal lands in heavily forested states like Mississippi to contribute to the nation’s renewable fuels resources,” said Senator Hyde-Smith. “With this bill, we will make it easier to develop a new revenue stream for the thinnings, logging residuals, and mill byproducts that Mississippi landowners and forest products manufacturers already generate, without requiring them to change how they manage their timberland.”

“The American Forest Resource Council strongly supports the bipartisan Wildfire Reduction Market Expansion Act. This legislation is a smart approach to help prevent catastrophic wildfires by creating new markets for low-value biomass fuels removed from at-risk national forests, protecting communities, increasing renewable energy supplies, and ultimately reducing wildfire suppression costs. Active forest management works. A recent large-scale study completed by UC Davis found that every dollar spent on forest fuel treatments saves about $3.75 in wildfire damages. We thank Congressman Cliff Bentz and Senator Jeff Merkley for being proactive and focusing on prevention to better protect our forests, communities, public health and safety, and the American taxpayer,” said American Forest Resource Council President/CEO Travis Joseph.

“The Forest Landowners Association applauds Congressmen Cliff Bentz and Bennie Thompson for introducing the Wildfire Reduction Market Expansion Act of 2026. Family forestry businesses need an all-of-the-above approach to market opportunities, and low-value wood products, manufacturing residuals, and woody biomass should be part of that conversation. While no single policy will address every challenge facing working forests, expanding potential markets for these materials can help provide additional certainty and opportunity for private forest landowners, rural communities, and our nation's forest products supply chain,” said Scott Jones, CEO, Forest Landowners Association.

“Associated Oregon Loggers appreciates Representative Bentz, Bennie Thompson, and their cosponsors for leadership on the Wildfire Reduction Market Expansion Act. Rural Oregon needs durable markets to sustain mills, contractors, and a skilled workforce required for active forest management. By creating economic value for low-value material, this bill would expand work for forest operators, allow rural Oregonians access to work in their local communities, and keep family-wage jobs where forest restoration needs are the greatest,” said Joe Justice, Executive Vice President of Associated Oregon Loggers.

“Representative Bentz understands that reducing wildfire risk requires viable markets for the low-value wood, thinnings, slash, and other material removed from overstocked forests,” said Dave Tenny, President and CEO of the National Alliance of Forest Owners. “When mills close and markets disappear, that material becomes more expensive and harder to remove from the landscape. The Wildfire Reduction Market Expansion Act would connect sustainable forest management with growing demand for advanced biofuels, strengthening rural economies while making wildfire-resilience work more economically achievable. We thank Representative Bentz for his leadership.”

The following members co-sponsored the Wildfire Reduction Market Expansion Act: Rep. Bennie Thompson (MS-02), Rep. Westerman, Rep. Gallagher (CA-01), Rep. Ezell (MS-04), Rep. Bera (CA-06), Rep. Van Orden (WI-03), Rep. Max Miller (OH-07), Rep. Schrier (WA-08), and Latta (OH-05)

The Wildfire Reduction Market Expansion Act would:

Expand the Renewable Fuel Standard's definition of "renewable biomass" to include additional forest products manufacturing and wood products manufacturing residuals, including wood residuals, paper residuals, sawdust, wood chips, bark, shavings, and other low-value byproducts.
Allow slash, storm debris, pre-commercial thinning material, fuel reduction byproducts, and ecological restoration material from qualifying private, tribal, and federal lands to be used as eligible renewable biomass.
Include vegetation removed through defensible space projects and wildfire risk reduction activities in the wildland-urban interface.
Establish a straightforward certification process for qualifying materials sourced from private and federal lands.
Clarify that existing forest plans and resource management plans do not need to specifically identify renewable fuel production as an intended end use, provided the underlying forest management activity is otherwise authorized and consistent with applicable law.

By expanding the definition of woody biomass under the renewable fuel standard, this legislation will help build new markets, strengthen rural economies, and reduce wildfire risk. This commonsense solution has drawn the support of over 86 organizations nationwide.

Full text of the Wildfire Reduction Market Expansion Act can be found by clicking here. READ MORE

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Merkley, Bentz introduce bill to expand RFS definition of renewable biomass (Ethanol Producer Magazine)

Excerpt from Ethanol Producer Magazine: The House version of the bill, H.R. 9827 was introduced by Rep. Cliff Bentz and referred to the House Committee on Energy and Commerce. To date, Reps. Bennie Thompson, D-Miss.; Bruce Westerman, R-Ariz.; Mike Ezell, R-Miss.; James Gallegher, R-Calif.; Ami Bera, D-Calif.; Max Miller, R-Ohio; Michael Guest, R-Miss.; Kim Schrier, D-Wash.; Robert Latta, R-Ohio; Derrick Van Orden, R-Wisc.; and Randy Fine, R-Fla., have signed on to cosponsor the bill.

The Senate version of the legislation, S. 5087, was introduced by Sen. Jeff Merkley, D-Ore., and referred to the Senate Committee on Environment and Public Works. Current cosponsors include Sens. Cindy Hyde-Smith, R-Miss.; Alex Padilla, D-Calif.; John Kennedy, R-La.; Jeanne Shaheen, D-N.H.; Angus King, I-Maine; and Susan Collins, R-Maine.

The bipartisan, bicameral bill is supported by more than 75 organizations, including Advanced Woody Biomass Alliance, American Biomass Energy Association, American Farm Bureau Federation, Pellet Fuels Institute, and SunGas Renewables.

“Farm Bureau appreciates the introduction of bipartisan legislation that supports farmers, foresters and both public and private forest lands across the United States,” said John Newton, vice president of public policy and economic analysis, American Farm Bureau Federation. “Updating the definition of renewable biomass for the Renewable Fuel Standard will support active land stewardship and reduce wildfire risk through improved management of public lands. Farm Bureau encourages the Senate to swiftly consider the Wildfire Reduction Market Expansion Act of 2026.”

A full version of the bill is available on Merkley’s website. READ MORE