At first glance, burning wood pellets may seem like a green solution—after all, wood is a natural material, right? And if it grows back, isn’t it renewable? That’s been the dominant narrative for years, especially in the wake of global efforts to shift toward renewable energy. But a deeper look reveals a more complex—and troubling—story.
Across the Southeastern United States, forests are being cut down to feed a growing industry: wood pellet biomass. These compressed bits of pine and hardwood are exported by the millions, primarily to Europe, where they are burned to generate electricity. The UK, in particular, is a top consumer, thanks to the European Union’s Renewable Energy Directive, which classified wood pellets as a viable renewable energy source back in 2009.
The directive’s goal was to move away from coal and fossil fuels, and on paper, biomass seemed like a cleaner option. But the reality on the ground—and in the atmosphere—tells a different story.
A Dirty Little Secret: Carbon Emissions from Biomass
Wood pellets are often promoted as carbon neutral. The reasoning is simple: trees absorb carbon dioxide while growing, so burning them simply releases that carbon back into the atmosphere. But this logic ignores two crucial factors.
First, burning wood releases carbon immediately, while trees take decades to grow back and re-sequester the same amount. Second, the process of harvesting, transporting, and processing wood into pellets also generates significant emissions.
According to Chatham House, a prominent London-based think tank, burning wood pellets released 17.6 million tons of CO₂ in the UK alone in 2019. And that’s just the emissions from combustion. The U.S., where many of the pellets are produced, saw upwards of 88 million tons of CO₂ emitted from logging and pellet manufacturing activities that same year.
That’s not a carbon-neutral process—it’s a carbon-heavy one wearing a green disguise.
Clear Cutting Forests: The Cost of Convenience
To meet the demand for wood pellets, manufacturers are clear-cutting forests—removing entire swaths of trees and disrupting ecosystems that take decades, if not centuries, to recover. These forests are not only carbon sinks, but also habitats for countless plant and animal species.
Efforts have been made to plant fast-growing pine plantations as a renewable source. But these monocultures offer poor biodiversity and don’t capture carbon nearly as efficiently as natural, mature forests. In essence, we’re trading vibrant ecosystems for quick-growth tree farms that don’t deliver the same environmental benefits.
Human Impact: Who Pays the Price?
The environmental damage doesn’t stop at deforestation. The communities surrounding biomass production facilities often suffer from exposure to pollutants and fine particulate matter generated during the manufacturing process. According to the National Wildlife Federation, over 14 million Americans live near these bioenergy plants—and many of them are low-income communities of color.
These residents experience increased health risks from prolonged exposure to air pollution. The smoke, chemical residue, and dust generated by pellet facilities can lead to respiratory issues, cardiovascular problems, and other long-term health concerns. In these cases, environmental injustice intersects with economic inequality, placing the burden of “green energy” on those least equipped to bear it.
Is Wood Really Renewable?
To be truly renewable, an energy source must regenerate quickly enough to meet demand without degrading the ecosystem. While technically trees do regrow, the reality is far more complex.
Forests that are cut down for pellets don’t regenerate overnight. The time lag between tree removal and regrowth—often decades—means that the carbon balance is thrown off for years. In the meantime, we continue to pump CO₂ into the atmosphere when we most need to reduce emissions. By the time those trees grow back, it may already be too late to prevent the worst impacts of climate change.
What Can We Do?
The wood pellet industry continues to expand, propped up by international demand and misleading classifications of biomass as clean energy. But growing awareness is sparking action.
Organizations like Dogwood Alliance are leading the charge to protect Southern forests and expose the harmful impacts of biomass energy. They offer petitions and campaigns aimed at changing legislation and holding companies accountable. By adding your voice, you can help challenge the status quo and advocate for policies that prioritize true sustainability.
A Final Word
In the battle against climate change, it’s tempting to embrace anything labeled “renewable.” But not all renewable resources are created equal. Wood pellets, while marketed as a clean alternative to coal, carry a heavy environmental and social cost.
Real solutions lie not in replacing one extractive practice with another, but in rethinking how we define and pursue clean energy. That means investing in genuinely low-emission alternatives like wind, solar, and geothermal, and protecting the forests that serve as the planet’s natural air purifiers.
After all, just because something comes from a tree doesn’t mean it’s green.
Want to take action? Visit advocacy groups like Dogwood Alliance or Southern Environmental Law Center to learn more, sign petitions, and join the movement for clean, just, and truly renewable energy.