House committee advances bill to classify woody biomass and discarded wood as "carbon-free" for electricity

A Minnesota House committee voted to place House File 249 on the general register after adopting an author's amendment that would expand the state's "carbon-free" electricity definition to include limbs, branches and other byproducts of timber harvesting, plus discarded wood products.

Supporters told the committee the change would create markets for otherwise wasted woody material, help forest management and support rural timber jobs; opponents said burning wood emits carbon and other pollutants and argued the 2023 law defining "carbon-free" electricity excludes technologies that emit carbon dioxide.

Representative Igo, who sponsored the bill, opened debate with an author's amendment that he said "just strikes line 1.1 out and replaces it" and removes a 50% threshold to make the bill clearer for presentation. After a voice vote to adopt the amendment, Igo described the measure as "getting at the carbon free definition" and said it would ensure "Minnesotans have access to safe, reliable, and affordable energy." He said the…