The Hardwood Federation produces a “D.C. Cheat Sheet” newsletter to keep the industry up-to-date on the latest news from Washington D.C. Check out the February 5th edition below and sign up to receive your copy.
Hardwood Federation Boards Meeting: On Monday, February 2, 2026, the Hardwood Federation Board of Directors and the Hardwood Federation PAC Board of Directors met in Indianapolis, Indiana. Board members, elected by the association members of the Hardwood Federation were confirmed, the board was updated on progress towards establishing and funding an economic relief program within the U.S. Department of Agriculture, and reviewed policy priorities for 2026. Although landowners and other wood products related sectors are also working on relief packages, the Hardwood Federation remains committed to developing a hardwood specific programs rather than a more general wood products solution. The board heard updates on other key policy priorities including increased truck weights through the reauthorization of the Transportation Bill, increased use of hardwoods in the built environment, and potential for passing a 2025 Farm Bill. The boards also discussed fundraising and budget needs for both the Hardwood Federation and the HFPAC in 2026, including how current industry challenges impact efforts.
Biomass as a Renewable Fuel: The Hardwood Federation and a number of other hardwood associations and companies signed a letter to U.S. Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) Administrator Lee Zeldin advocating for modernizing the treatment of woody biomass under the national Renewable Fuels Standard (RFS) so that liquid fuels derived from forest biomass could qualify under the mandate. The current definition disqualifies virtually all fuel from woody biomass from eligibility. Under the existing statute enacted in 2007, only trees sourced from plantations growing on land cleared prior to December 19, 2007 (date of enactment) would qualify. Fiber from federal land is also not eligible, nor is any slash from private land that may include whole trees. Sawmill residuals also face eligibility challenges if the sawmill owner cannot trace all the fiber back to qualifying tree plantations. The letter was led by the National Alliance of Forest Owners. Forest landowner advocates are looking to move biomass definitional language as part of a broader effort underway by ethanol advocates to extend E-15 blended gasoline sales year-round.
Source: Hardwood Federation