Promotes Renewable Energy at
Innovative Colville Company

Colville, WA – Rep. Cathy McMorris Rodgers (R-WA) began her “Jobs and Energy Tour” of Eastern Washington with a speech at the Hearth & Home Technologies factory in Colville about the importance of biomass and other renewable energies.  She joined other local leaders at the company’s event, “Growing a Cleaner, Greener Economy Utilizing Renewable Densified Biomass,” which showcased the company’s use of pellets as a form of green technology.  

“We live in a country with tremendous energy resources – including the greatest resource of all – the ingenuity of the free American mind,” said Rep. McMorris Rodgers.  “We should be using those resources to create more energy jobs and achieve energy independence.  Biomass, in particular, is a great energy source.  In Eastern Washington, we’ve seen how biomass can complement existing forestry infrastructure to create jobs and provide renewable, affordable energy.  Led by innovative companies such as Hearth & Home Technologies, I’m excited that Eastern Washington will continue to take biomass to the next level.”

Last year, Rep. McMorris Rodgers signed a letter to Nancy Sutley, Chair of the Council on Environmental Quality (CEQ) encouraging the CEQ to work with other federal agencies - especially the Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) - in developing a “sensible, consistent, scientifically-based policy that recognizes the carbon-neutrality of biogenic sources.”  In response, the EPA recently decided to exclude biomass from its list of regulated energy sources for the next three years.

“While this is encouraging news, we still need a permanent ruling from the EPA,” said Rep. McMorris Rodgers.  “Going forward, I will continue advocating for a permanent ruling to keep the biomass industry growing and thriving.”