Biomass: An overview in the United States of America

Conference · Thu Dec 30 23:00:00 EST 1993

DOI:https://doi.org/10.1016/B978-0-08-025388-6.50048-9· OSTI ID:140270

Robertson, T ^[1]; Shapouri, H

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1. USDA Soil Conservation Service, Washington, DC (United States)

Concerns about the heavy reliance on foreign sources of fossil fuels, environmental impacts of burning fossil fuels, environmental impacts of agricultural activities, the need to find sustainable renewable sources of energy, and the need for a sustainable agricultural resource base have been driving forces for the development of biomass as a source of energy. The development of biomass conversion technologies, of high-yielding herbaceous and short-rotation woody biomass crops, of high-yielding food, feed, and fiber crops, and of livestock with higher levels of feed conversion efficiencies has made the transition from total reliance on fossil fuels to utilization of renewable sources of energy from biomass a reality. A variety of biomass conversion technologies have been developed and tested. Public utilities, private power companies, and the paper industry are interested in applying this technology. Direct burning of biomass and/or cofiring in existing facilities will reduce emissions of greenhouse and other undesirable gases. Legislation has been passed to promote biomass production and utilization for liquid fuels and electricity. Land is available. The production of short-rotation woody crops and perennial grasses provides alternatives to commodity crops to stabilize income in the agricultural sector. The production of biomass crops can also reduce soil erosion, sediment loadings to surface water, and agricultural chemical loadings to ground and surface water; provide wildlife habitat; increase income and employment opportunities in rural areas; and provide a more sustainable agricultural resource base.

• Research Organization: National Renewable Energy Lab., Golden, CO (United States)
• OSTI ID: 140270
• Report Number(s): NREL/CP--200-5768-Vol.1; CONF-9308106--Vol.1; ON: DE93010050
• Country of Publication: United States
• Language: English

Related Subjects

09 BIOMASS FUELS
AGRICULTURE
BIOMASS
BIOMASS PLANTATIONS
COGENERATION
CROPS
ELECTRICITY
ENVIRONMENTAL IMPACTS
EROSION
FOOD
GREENHOUSE GASES
LEGISLATION
LIQUID FUELS
PAPER INDUSTRY
POLLUTION ABATEMENT
PUBLIC UTILITIES
RENEWABLE ENERGY SOURCES
RENEWABLE RESOURCES
RESOURCE ASSESSMENT
RURAL AREAS
SOCIO-ECONOMIC FACTORS
USA
WOOD FUELS