Woody biomass is gaining increased attention as a potential source of renewable, carbon-neutral energy, but a new study is casting doubt on just how eco-friendly this fuel source really is.

In areas with dense forests, such as the western United States, producing energy from combustible forest materials has been touted as a way to reduce reliance on fossil fuels, improve forest health, and create green jobs.

In particular, Oregon Governor John Kitzhaber has pushed strongly for the development of this resource as a way of meeting his state’s renewable energy portfolio standard and revitalizing stagnant rural economies by incentivizing the growth of the biomass industry, pushing for classification of biomass as a carbon neutral energy