Environmental and social costs of biomass energy

Journal Article · Wed Feb 01 00:00:00 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), Vol. 34:2
• Country of Publication: United States
• Language: English

Related Subjects

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