In 2007, the US Congress missed passing a federal renewable portfolio standard (RPS), in large part because the Southern delegates were not aware that biomass energy is considered a renewable energy resource–one in which those states are rich.

With a new administration and a new focus on addressing climate change & energy issues, we anticipate the federal RPS will, once again, become a legislative agenda item. Virginia, the time to prepare for this renewable energy future is now. It’s time for us to catalogue and understand our own biomass energy resources and bring them to the table so that we can move forward with strength and confidence.