BiomassAs a renewable energy, it is biological material from living or once living organisms. Biomass can be used directly as energy or converted into energy products such as biofuel. Biomass is plant matter used to generate electricity with steam turbines and gasifiers, most often by direct combustion .

Examples of useable material for biomass: forest residue (such as dead trees, branches and tree stumps), yard clippings, wood chips, and solid municipal waste.

Current investment

New York’s investment: New York has the

resources and technology to utilize biomass as an energy source. The only obstacles are the creation of new plants to harness biomass electricity.

U.S. current investment: The U.S. has a large and growing amount of wood and wood by-products. To turn all that into useable energy is a very practical and green method of providing energy for the country.

Should we invest in this energy?

It’s a good idea to invest in biomass energy. It is a highly green method of energy production and a very possible green energy alternative for the U.S.

Number of Active biomass plants

22

Biomass is 3.3 percent of current U.S. energy production

Why biomass should be used more than alternatives

• Made locally with minimal cost so there isn’t a need for long pipelines.

• Converts waste into fuel• CO2 neutral• Inexhaustible• Produces ethanol which is used as an

alternative to gasoline and reduces the amount of carbon monoxide and other airborne toxin levels

Negatives of biomass

• it produces carbon dioxide and other greenhouse gases

• Contributes to global warming• Gathering fuel is expensive• Some useable material isn’t

available all year long such as crop wastes

Citation

" Biomass - Pros and cons." Biomass - Home. N.p., n.d. Web. 20 Apr. 2012. <http://whatabiomass.weebly.com/pros-and-cons.html>.

"Biomass - Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia." Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia. N.p., n.d. Web. 20 Apr. 2012.

<http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Biomass>.

"Biomass Energy Home Page Biomass Energy: Cost of Production." Oregon.gov Home Page. N.p., n.d. Web. 20 Apr. 2012.

<http://www.oregon.gov/ENERGY/RENEW

Ghosh, Suvamita. "Biomass Energy Pros and Cons." Buzzle. N.p., n.d. Web. 20 Apr. 2012. <http://www.buzzle.com/articles/biomass-energy-pros-and-

cons.html>.

Biomass vs Nuclear

1. Biomass is readily available and in large supply2. Biomass can be produced almost anywhere and is not

very susceptible to political pressures while nuclear is not.

3. Biomass can produce solid, liquid, or gaseous fuels. The energy content of biomass is high while nuclear only has one form of fuel.

4. Biomass technology is simple and has been in use for a long time while nuclear is not.

5. Wood is probably one of the most undermanaged and underutilized resources in the U.S. With proper planning and maintenance, it could provide readily usable fuel forever.

Biomass vs Solar and Wind

1. Biomass is available almost everywhere while solar and wind energy just are not as practical in some places.

2. Biomass power plants take up less space by a significant amount over a wind field that wind energy needs.

3. Biomass doesn’t rely on your house pointing a certain direction, or available space on a roof top. It also doesn’t need to be area specific like a solar power plant.

Biomass vs Geothermal

1. Biomass is more practical in the U.S. as geothermal wouldn’t produce enough power to be anywhere close to what biomass can produce with the exception of the far west coast where the earth’s plates connect.

2. While both are very environmentally friendly, biomass clears up landfills and reduces the amount of landfills we have while geothermal does not.

Biomass vs Hydropower

1. Hydropower can only be used near a large body of water or near a fast moving stream/river while biomass can be used almost anywhere.

2. While biomass is carbon neutral and does not effect the environment in a negative way, hydropower releases a large quantity of hot water and sometimes chemicals into the water system near them disrupting and sometimes killing the wild life in the area.