Building Product Facilities
 The original founders of the Alabama Forestry Association in 1949 were mostly sawmillers. Today, there are over 800 building product facilities of all types and sizes in operation across Alabama, including more than 100 sawmills, 28 veneer and panel mills, and approximately 700 secondary manufacturing facilities (i.e cabinets and door manufacturers). These mills put Alabama on the map as a major producer of building products and provide much needed income to numerous rural towns and communities.
Recent Sawmill Production Stats (1):
- Ranked #7 in the U.S. in lumber production: Over 2.7 billion board feet of lumber was produced in Alabama during the most recent reporting period, 90% of which was Southern Pine.
- Ranked #8 in wood panel production: Approximately 2 billion square feet of wood panels are produced a year.
Despite this high production, Alabama’s forests are growing timber much faster than it is being harvested. The most recent data shows that timber growth exceeds removals by 23.8%. Pine growth exceeds removals by 20.3% and hardwood growth exceeds removals by 31.3%. (2)
Pulp & Paper Facilities
 Alabama is home to 14 "world class" pulp and paper companies. Pulp and paper accounts for almost half of Alabama's total forestry shipments each year, generating revenues of $7.9 billion annually.
Recent Pulp & Paper Production Stats: - Ranked #8 in the world in pulp production and #12 in paper production.
- Ranked #2 in the U.S. in pulp production and #3 in paper production. (3)
Alabama’s pulp and paper companies also work with state and federal regulators to assure that the state’s air and water are clean and healthy to breathe and drink. Working with state and federal regulators to assure clean air and water is part of the industry’s commitment to a better Alabama.
Biomass Facilities  Alabama leads the nation in the use of renewable sources from industry (4). In fact, many of Alabama’s pulp and paper mills, sawmills, and other types of forestry manufacturing operations have been burning wood and wood biomass since the 1960’s and 70’s for energy. Today, some pulp and paper companies burn an average of 500,000-600,000 tons of biomass a year to fuel their operations, generating 73% of their own electricity.
But more recently, wood pellet production has come to the forefront with the following new facilities:
- Selma, Ala- 500,000-ton a year plant in production
- Marianna, Fla- 550,000-ton a year plant in operation
- Savannah, Ga - 145,000-ton a year plant operating
A 600,000-ton a year plant is being considered in Jackson, Ala. The quest for other types of renewable fuels, such cellulosic ethanol, is ongoing at several locations around the country. In addition, Alabama Power Company is conducting a pilot program at its Plant Gadsden facility that involves co-firing wood chips with coal to reduce greenhouse gas emissions.
(1) U.S. Dept. of Commerce and Auburn Forest Products Development Center
(2) U.S.D.A. Forest Service
(3) Auburn Forest Products Development Center
(4) Alabama Policy Institute Report
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