SEATTLE — A pair of proposals to build wood pellet-manufacturing plants in Hoquiam and Longview would bring a growing but controversial global industry to Washington. Countries including the U.K. and Japan have subsidized the burning of such pellets to produce electricity. …But of concern is the industry’s operations elsewhere have revealed the use of whole logs, and even old growth forests in British Columbia, to manufacture them. …Drax and other wood pellet producers in the southeastern U.S. also vowed to use residual materials. But the Southern Environmental Law Center estimates that at least 100,000 acres of trees in the American south have been harvested for wood pellets. …The Times editorial board supports active management of working forestlands to improve their health, prevent wildfire and supply critical material for everything from utility poles to affordable housing. …But state leaders should be wary of these past examples. [to access the full story a Seattle Times subscription is required]