Source: U.S. Energy Information Agency
Figure 8.14 Biomass electricity generation in the United States (2005–
2015)PROS
■ Crop residues are available.
■ Reduces the impact on landfills.
■ Biomass can be grown on marginal land that is not suitable for
agriculture.CONS
■ Net-energy yield is low to moderate. Energy is required for drying and
transporting material to a centralized facility.
■ Causes severe air pollution if not burned in a centralized facility with air
pollution control devices (e.g., burning wood in a home to cook meals).
■ Causes an increase in CO 2 production, resulting in a greater impact on
global warming.
■ Can result in the destruction of native habitats and the concurrent decrease
in biodiversity.
■ Could deplete the soil of nutrients if the same biomass crop is continually
grown in the same location.
■ Land might be better used for growing a variety of food crops in a
sustainable manner.Biofuels
A biofuel is a fuel (e.g., ethanol) that is produced from living organisms (e.g.,
corn, sugarcane) and is most commonly used in the United States and
developing nations such as Brazil, China, and India. The United States and
Brazil account for 90% of all biofuels produced.