The Biden Administration now faces a debate which has been punted forward from both the Obama and Trump presidencies: In dealing with the climate crisis, how will they treat biomass as fuel? Biomass is organic matter like wood pellets.

Both pro- and anti-biomass viewpoints can be found now among Biden Administration appointees. Politico has a wide-ranging review of the convoluted arguments made by the wood pellet industry, the science-based counters from sustainability advocates, and the possible internal fight within the administration.

The main culprit is wood pellets. Much of this wood is harvested and processed in North Carolina before being exported to Europe and beyond. Environmental advocates here have opposed wood pellet developer Enviva for years, over charges of air and water pollution and environmental racism.