Merkley, Bentz Look To Promote Renewable Fuels, Boost Resiliency

Northwest lawmakers are leading a bipartisan effort in Congress aimed at reducing catastrophic wildfire risk while creating new markets for wood removed from forests. Oregon Senator Jeff Merkley and Congressman Cliff Bentz have joined Senator Cindy Hyde-Smith and Representative Bernie Thompson, both of Mississippi to introduce the Wildfire Reduction Market Expansion Act.

The bill would expand the federal Renewable Fuel Standard to include woody biomass from forest management projects, allowing brush, small trees, and logging residue removed during wildfire prevention work to be turned into renewable fuel. Supporters say creating a market for that material could help offset the cost of thinning forests, improve wildfire resilience on public, private, and Tribal lands, and support rural economies.

Legislation Looks To Create New Markets While Promoting Healthier Forests

“Reducing wildfire risk demands innovative solutions and using all the tools at our disposal to invest in wildfire prevention efforts,” said 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.”

“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," Bentz said. "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,” said Bentz.

Washington Congresswoman Kim Schrier also threw her support behind this legation.

Farming, Timber Sectors Applaud The Proposal

The bipartisan, bicameral bill is supported by over 75 organizations, including the National Alliance of Forest Owners, Intertribal Timber Council, Alliance for Wildfire Resilience, American Forest Resource Council, and American Farm Bureau Federation. A full list of supporting organizations can be found by clicking Here.

“NAFO thanks Senator Merkley and Senator Hyde-Smith for their leadership in introducing the Wildfire Reduction Market Expansion Act of 2026," said Dave Tenny, President and CEO, National Alliance of Forest Owners. "Supporting this legislation is an easy call. The bill creates a powerful new tool for addressing the wildfire crisis and the ongoing closures of wood-consuming paper mills by unlocking practical markets for low-value wood and mill residuals. It supports forest health and resilience through active forest management, strengthens the sawmills that supply our housing sector, bolsters rural economies, and helps America meet growing demand for renewable fuels. At a time when forest owners, mills, and rural communities are facing real economic peril, this targeted fix to the definition of wood in the Renewable Fuel Standard is exactly the kind of commonsense solution Congress should advance."

"The Intertribal Timber Council supports reforming clean energy frameworks, including the Renewable Fuel Standard. Classification of forest residuals from all forestlands as eligible for market-based incentives will increase the use of these forest materials, which will accelerate hazardous fuel reduction, thus providing a critical defense against catastrophic wildfires that endanger tribal communities, water supplies, and cultural sites,” said Cal Mukumoto, ITC Executive Director.

“Farm Bureau appreciates the introduction of bipartisan legislation that supports farmers, foresters and both public and private forest lands across the United States," said Dr. 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."

Click Here to read the full text of the Wildfire Reduction Market Expansion Act.