The forest products industry consumed almost 3.3 quads of energy in 1998. This represents about 14% of domestic manufacturing energy use, making the forest products industry as a whole the third largest industrial consumer of energy, behind only petroleum and chemicals. Within the forest products industry, the pulp and paper industry uses the vast majority of the energy, 2.75 quads, while the wood products industry uses only 0.51 quad. The industry has made good use of wood residues and byproducts (black liquor) and self-generates a large portion of its own energy needs. According to the 1998 Manufacturing Energy Consumption Survey (MECS), the wood products industry produced almost 50% of its energy requirement by burning wood residues from tree harvesting and sawmill operations. In 1998, the pulp and paper industry self-generated about 46% of its energy needs, and the industry itself estimates this figure to be closer to 55% in 1997 [AF&PA 1997]. The pulp and paper industry spent $7.6 billion for energy in 1998, roughly 3.0% of the value of shipments in that year, and remains the manufacturing sector's fourth largest consumer of fossil fuels. [MECS 1998, DOC/ASM 1996]

Source: MECS 1985, 1988, 1991, 1994 and 1998