Georgia may ban use of LEED on state buildings

Georgia's state legislature is considering a measure to require all state buildings to only use green building standards that permit the use of Georgia's lumber.

If passed, the law would effectively ban the U.S. Green Building Council's (USGBC) LEED program, which only permits lumber certified by the Forest Stewardship Council on all state building projects.

Other sustainability programs certify forests in Georgia, but most are not certified by the Forest Stewardship Council.

One of the other certification programs, the Sustainable Forestry Initiative, has been criticized by environmental groups for being too closely tied to the lumber industry.

The bill is headed to the state Senate for a vote.