# Forest Biomass Emissions Act of 2024

This bill asks the Environmental Protection Agency to take a closer look at how burning wood and forest waste for electricity actually affects the climate. Right now, when the EPA makes rules about energy production, it doesn't always fully account for all the greenhouse gases released when forest biomass—things like wood pellets, sawmill scraps, and timber waste—gets burned in power plants. This bill would require the EPA to measure the complete environmental impact, from harvesting the wood all the way through burning it for electricity.

The bill also orders the EPA to study how the forest biomass industry affects communities living near wood pellet mills, power plants that burn wood, and active logging areas. The study would look at pollution problems these communities face, including dust, noise, and harmful air pollutants. Researchers would measure air quality around these facilities and collect information about who lives in these areas, including their race and income levels. This matters because communities near industrial operations often experience more pollution and health problems, and the bill aims to document whether that's happening with biomass facilities.

The EPA would have one year to complete this study and then report its findings to Congress and a scientific advisory board. The goal is to get better information about whether burning forest biomass for energy is actually as clean as some people claim, and whether certain neighborhoods are bearing the burden of pollution from these operations. This could influence future environmental rules and how the government treats forest biomass as an energy source.