NRMCA Convenes Discussion on Mass Timber and Climate Issues

Last week, NRMCA hosted representatives from NSSGA, PCA and various steel associations for a discussion on how to combat federal initiatives to promote mass timber. These buildings associations were heavily involved in NRMCA’s fight against tall wood buildings in the 2018 farm bill. Last year, a number of pro-wood provisions in appropriations bills were omitted from bill text and report language. In 2020, NRMCA expects a section of the Republican climate plan to focus heavily on promoting sustainable construction products, including mass timber. While few details of the plan have been released, the plan will incorporate the “Trillion Trees” initiative introduced at the World Economic Forum in Davos, Switzerland, this year and endorsed by President Trump in his State of the Union address.

The coalition will produce a joint letter advocating for materials neutrality, conduct joint meetings explaining and arguing against any preference for any particular material, specifically wood and mass timber, as well as work on including provisions in key appropriations bills. NRMCA and PCA previously sent a joint letter to the Select Committee on the Climate Crisis on the importance of not overestimating the environmental advantages of mass timber.

For more information, contact Andrew Tyrrell at atyrrell@nrmca.org.