Wildfire Reduction Market Expansion Act of 2026

More biomass options for fuel producers

If enacted, this bill would expand what counts as "renewable biomass" for the Renewable Fuel Standard. It would add trees, shrubs, slash, storm debris, and manufacturing leftovers such as sawdust, wood chips, shavings, bark, sander dust, and some paper recycling residuals, while excluding paper types commonly recycled. Non-Federal land would qualify if the land is under a forest sustainability/logging certification, is classified for taxes as forest or timber land, or the owner provides an attestation letter that the land is managed for long-term timber production. Materials from National Forests or other public lands would qualify only if the Secretary of Agriculture or the Secretary of the Interior certifies they are by-products (or from fuel reduction, restoration, or thinning), not reasonably suitable as sawlogs, and sourced under applicable law and the applicable forest or resource management plan. Vegetation removed for defensible space or wildland-urban-interface wildfire risk reduction would qualify when done under local law or, if none, the International Wildland-Urban Interface Code, and as defined by the Healthy Forests Restoration Act. Required certifications or attestations would be allowed as letters to the person seeking credits. The bill would treat land owned by an Alaska Native Corporation and land owned or held in trust for tribes or individual Indians as eligible. If enacted, these changes would take effect upon enactment.