Effects of Renewable Energy Mandates on the Sustainability of Forests in the Southeastern U.S.

Summary. The potential for renewable energy production in the Southeastern United States rests heavily on its forest biomass. The Southeastern Forest represents 29 % of the total forest acres in the U.S., and this complex biological system provides sustainable, cost competitive supply for 60 % of our nation’s traditional timber product output. Poorly crafted mandates or economic incentives for renewable energy can cause severe harm to this biological and economic system, creating conflict between the forest products industry and renewable energy producers that may endanger the long term sustainability of Southeastern forests. The existing federal Renewable Fuel Standard and proposed Renewable Portfolio Standard can drive demands for biomass to unsustainable levels, compromising biological processes and the values that society obtains from the Southeastern Forest. This paper shows that renewable energy mandates, if not materially offset by other, more weakly positioned renewable resources in the Southeast, could lead to a substantial increase in regional biomass demand. This increase could change the character of the forest, compromise forest values and reduce the quantity of fiber available for use in forest products