CHARLOTTE, NC - A bill that would end the use of the U.S. Green Building Council’s (USGBC) LEED program on public projects in the State of North Carolina has passed the house and is advancing through the senate.

The bill was set to go before the N.C. Senate Committee on Agriculture, Environment and Natural Resources, but was delayed for procedural reasons.

Maine was the first to fight against LEED standards, followed by Georgia.

Some lumber businesses are critical of LEED - the credit system that verifies green practices in building and construction, because it only accepts the Forest Stewardship Council chain of custody wood certification. Timber professionals say this discriminates against forest certifid by SFI (Sustainable Forestry Initiative) and the American Tree Farm System for wood certification.

While defenders of the bill believe it will create new jobs, State Rep. Ruth Samuelson  believes it is “highly likely” businesses such as steel producers, concrete makers and HVAC manufacturers “will run the risk of losing jobs because they are right now favored under LEED.

LEED opposition in the government isn't something new. Both Maine and Georgia's governors  issued executive orders banning the use of any scheme, such as LEED, that doesn't credit wood certified under the several commonly accepted wood chain of custody standards, including SFI and the American Tree Farm System.