Biomass: Energy Data, Multi-Year Plan & Legislative Definitions (Energy Science, Engineering & Technology Series)

The use of biomass as an energy feedstock is emerging as a potentially viable alternative to address U.S. energy security concerns, foreign oil dependence, rural economic development, and diminishing sources of conventional energy. Biomass (organic matter that can be converted into energy) may include food crops, crops for energy, crop residues, wood waste and by-products, and animal manure. Most legislation involving biomass has focused on encouraging the production of liquid fuels from corn. To aid understanding of why U.S. consumers, utility groups, refinery managers, and others have not fully adopted biomass as an energy resource, this book investigates the characterisation of biomass in legislation, looks at energy data and the multi-year program plan.