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:6891339

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.

• Research Organization: New York State Coll of Agriculture and Life Sciences, Cornell Univ, Ithaca, NY, USA
• OSTI ID: 6891339
• Journal Information: BioScience; (United States), Journal Name: BioScience; (United States) Vol. 34:2; ISSN BISNA
• Country of Publication: United States
• Language: English

Related Subjects

14 SOLAR ENERGY
140400 -- Solar Energy-- Environmental Aspects
29 ENERGY PLANNING, POLICY, AND ECONOMY
290300 -- Energy Planning & Policy-- Environment
Health
& Safety
299003* -- Energy Planning & Policy-- Unconventional Sources & Power Generation-- Other-- (-1989)
AIR POLLUTION
BIOMASS
ENERGY SOURCES
ENVIRONMENTAL IMPACTS
FOOD
HAZARDS
HEALTH HAZARDS
INSTITUTIONAL FACTORS
LAND USE
POLLUTION
RENEWABLE ENERGY SOURCES
RESOURCE CONSERVATION
RESOURCES
SAFETY
SOCIAL IMPACT
SOCIO-ECONOMIC FACTORS
SOIL CONSERVATION
WATER RESOURCES