Forest bioenergy proponents argue that because forests regrow, forest bioenergy is renewable, and carbon neutral. Therefore it is a “Nature Based Solution” for meeting climate goals.

Alternative counterfactuals for different approaches, however, lead to very different conclusions.

This analysis will examine the assumptions behind the premise that bioenergy is “carbon neutral,” and examine the forest carbon cycle under management for bioenergy relative to alternative energy including fossil fuels, and zero carbon renewables such as wind and solar.