In a major policy shift that benefits timberlandowners, EPA administrator Scott Pruitt announced that biomass will be considered carbon neutral for the purposes of regulating emissions from sources such as power plants that burn wood. Biomass proponents hailed the announcement as long overdue. “The EPA’s declaration that forest biomass energy is carbon neutral confirms what we in forestry have long known,” said Rep. Bruce Westerman, the only licensed forester on Capitol Hill. “Trees are a renewable resource, and properly managed forests can provide clean energy for decades to come. Simply put, this move by the EPA is a victory for Arkansas forests and the industries that rely on our number one renewable resource.”