Rep. Cliff Bentz proposes market for wildfire fuel biomass

Oregon Representative Cliff Bentz has introduced the Wildfire Reduction Market Expansion Act, a bipartisan bill aimed at transforming wildfire fuel from federal forests into a renewable energy market. The legislation seeks to expand the definition of materials qualifying as renewable biomass, creating potential buyers for low-value vegetation removed during forest restoration and wildfire prevention efforts.

Bentz argues that the cost of supporting this market should be weighed against the billions of dollars currently spent fighting wildfires. He identified aviation fuel, specifically green kerosene for jet fuel, as a primary potential market for this biomass. While the economic viability and exact scale of demand remain under question, the proposal aligns with efforts to rescind the Clinton-era “roadless rule” to facilitate forest management.