Wildfire Reduction Market Expansion Act of 2026

Key Points

• The bill expands the list of wood and plant materials that qualify as renewable biomass under the Clean Air Act's renewable fuel standard, adding items like sawdust, wood chips, bark, and paper recycling residuals.
• The change aims to create a market for wildfire fuel like brush and small trees, giving land managers a financial reason to clear overgrown forests, as reflected in the bill's short title.
• Qualifying materials can come from national forests or public lands if federal officials certify the wood is a byproduct of fuel reduction, ecological restoration, or pre-commercial thinning projects and isn't good enough for lumber.
• The bill also allows biomass from tribal land and vegetation cleared from the defensible space around homes, businesses, and public facilities to count toward renewable fuel credits.
• Landowners must provide certifications, such as a letter confirming non-federal land is managed for long-term timber production, to ensure the wood is sourced properly before it can generate credits.