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PPRC Comments to Virginia DEQ2F

March 23, 2018

David K. Paylor, Director, Virginia Environmental Quality
Michael G. Dowd, Director, Air and Renewable Energy Division
Virginia Department of Environmental Quality
629 E. Main Street
Richmond, VA 23219

Dear Director, Paylor and Director Dowd:

On behalf of the Pulp & Paperworkers’ Resource Council (PPRC), I appreciate the opportunity to comment on the Commonwealth of Virginia’s proposed “Regulation for Emissions Trading” for the CO2 Budget Trading Program.

The PPRC is a non-profit grassroots organization made up of ground floor hourly workers in the forest products industries. We come from across the United States. The PPRC is committed to educating our policy makers on issues of importance to the forest products industry and the impact policies have on our jobs and communities.

In Virginia, the forest products industry operates 46 manufacturing facilities and employs more than 27,000 individuals with an annual payroll of over $1.1 billion and produces $7.3 billion in product each year. The estimated state and local taxes paid by the Virginia forest products industry totals $155 million annually.

PPRC does not support Virginia joining RGGI because it will raise electric power prices and consequently cause Virginia-based businesses to become less competitive. However, if the state does join RGGI, we urge that DEQ maintain the exemption for industrial boilers and ensure that biogenic carbon dioxide emissions are considered carbon neutral.

Biogenic carbon dioxide emissions from forest-derived bioenergy categorically should be counted as making zero contribution to the build-up of greenhouse gases in the atmosphere where timberland carbon stocks are stable or increasing. Through the natural carbon cycle, growing forests sequester carbon as trees continually are replanted and grow through their lifecycles, even as some trees are being harvested.

The most recent data from the U.S. Forest Service indicate that timberlands in Virginia, the U.S. South, and the entire U.S. have highly positive net growth vs. removal ratios.

We appreciate your consideration of these comments and look forward to continuing our work with the Commonwealth of Virginia on this very important issue. If you have any questions, please do not hesitate to contact me.

Sincerely,

David M. Wise
Pulp and Paperworkers’ Resource Council
National Steering Committee Chairman
Southeast Region Director
POB 100544
Florence, SC 29502-544
david.wise@westrock.com
(843) 269-0164

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National Administrative Positions

  • Information Technology Director
    David Cothren, USW Local 13-1149
    Graphic Packaging International
    Queen City, TX 75572
    David.Cothren@graphicpkg.com
  • Internal Communication Director
    Lloyd Allen, USW Local 9-983
    Graphic Packaging International
    Augusta, GA 30906
    Lloyd.Allen@graphicpkg.com
  • External Communication Director
    Doug Kinsey, IAM Local 414
    International Paper Company
    Rome, GA 30165
    James.Kinsey@ipaper.com
  • Scheduling Director
    Glenda Thompson, USW Local 9-425
    WestRock Company
    Roanoke Rapids, NC 27870
    Glenda@pprc.info

National Special Projects Coordinators at Large

  • Vince Geiser, NSC Recording Secretary
    IBEW Local 464
    WestRock Company
    Covington, VA 24426
    james.geiser@westrock.com
  • Andy Weeks, USW Local 9-978
    Packaging Corporation of America
    Counce, TN 38326
    weeksworks4@gmail.com,  aweekspprc@outlook.com
  • Matt Hall NSC Vice Chairman IBEW Local 464 
    WestRock Company
    Covington, VA 24426
    matt.hall@westrock.com 
  • Jason Etheridge, USW Local 9-0425
    WestRock Company
    Roanoke Rapids, NC 27870
    jasonetheridge78@yahoo.com

Executive Team

  • Clay Duke, Executive Director
    clay.duke@everpack.com | Pine Bluff, AR
  • David Wise, Chairman
    david.wise@westrock.com | Florence, SC
  • Matt Hall, Vice Chairman
    matt.hall@westrock.com | Covington, VA

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