Environmental and social costs of biomass energy

Journal Article · Wed Feb 01 04:00:00 EST 1984 · BioScience; (United States)

DOI:https://doi.org/10.2307/1309567· OSTI ID:6835040

Pimentel, D; Fried, C; Olson, L; Schmidt, S; Wagner-Johnson, K; Westman, A; Whelan, A; Foglia, K; Poole, P; Klein, T

Biomass could provide as much as 11% of US energy needs by the year 2000; however, serious environmental and socioeconomic problems associated with biomass energy necessitate careful analysis of the benefits and risks. The environmental problems include: conflicts over land and water resources with agricultural and forestry production; increased soil erosion and nutrient loss; plus higher levels of air pollution. Socioeconomic problems include an increase in occupational injuries and illnesses and a rise in land and farm commodity prices. 53 references.

• Research Organization: Cornell Univ., Ithaca, NY
• DOE Contract Number: AC02-81ER60002
• OSTI ID: 6835040
• Journal Information: BioScience; (United States), Journal Name: BioScience; (United States) Vol. 34:2; ISSN BISNA
• Country of Publication: United States
• Language: English

Related Subjects

29 ENERGY PLANNING, POLICY, AND ECONOMY
530100 -- Environmental-Social Aspects of Energy Technologies-- Social & Economic Studies-- (-1989)
530200* -- Environmental-Social Aspects of Energy Technologies-- Assessment of Energy Technologies-- (-1989)
AGRICULTURE
AIR POLLUTION
BIOMASS
BIOMASS PLANTATIONS
ENERGY SOURCE DEVELOPMENT
ENERGY SOURCES
ENVIRONMENTAL EFFECTS
EROSION
FORESTRY
INDUSTRY
INSTITUTIONAL FACTORS
LAND USE
NUTRIENTS
POLLUTION
RENEWABLE ENERGY SOURCES
RESOURCE POTENTIAL
RESOURCES
SOCIO-ECONOMIC FACTORS
WATER RESOURCES