Nov 14, 2007. /Lesprom Network/. National Association of Forest Industries of Australia NAFI supported the Labor Party’s Clean Energy Plan, however it is concerned that the role forests can play in producing clean, renewable energy has been again overlooked, said NAFI in a statement. NAFI’s CEO, Catherine Murphy, said Australia has an opportunity to utilise wood waste to create green energy. “The major parties need to have a broader understanding of the use of waste wood for renewable energy and reducing emissions from fossil fuels,” said Mrs Murphy. “Countries in Europe and North America are already utilising wood waste, especially in the rapidly growing market for wood pellets for bioenergy. For example, 20 percent of Finland’s energy is now produced through wood waste. “The Australian forest industry has the potential to create around 3 million megawatt hours of renewable bioenergy without harvesting another tree. “This is over 30 percent of the Coalition’s target of 9.5 million megawatt hours of renewable energy by 2010 and would make a significant contribution to Labor’s target. “This renewable energy is created from material that is left on the forest floor after the higher-value timber resources have been harvested. It also includes the sawdust, shavings, off-cuts and other by-products associated with timber processing. “Already numerous timber companies are using wood residues to create power for their operations such as sawmills and drying kilns,” Mrs Murphy said. In addition, Mrs Murphy said there are problems with certain state and federal regulations surrounding the use of wood waste for renewable energy. “These include restrictive policies in NSW and Victoria which do not allow the use of native forest harvesting residues for green power production. Additionally, at the national level, there are limitations on the use of forest residues for bioenergy through the Commonwealth’s renewable energy regulations,” said Mrs Murphy. “NAFI will be engaging with all state and federal governments and to ensure that renewable energy from wood waste is recognised,” Mrs Murphy said.