The federal Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) has declared biomass from managed forests as carbon neutral when burned for energy production.  The agency noted that the decision was not based on scientific evidence or recommendations by the independent Scientific Advisory Board, who was tasked in 2011 to establish a factor for carbon emissions from the entire life cycle of biomass feedstocks for electricity generation.  Forest industry groups such as the American Wood Council have welcomed the announcement. At the same time the effect on biomass energy use in the U.S. is unclear because many ...