| Renewable energy is typically equated with wind | | | | landfill, it can be more efficiently utilized by sending |
| and sun. However, biomass, which can include | | | | it to wood biomass plants and converted into |
| plant material or human waste, supplies nearly 15 | | | | renewable sources of energy. |
| times more energy in the United States than wind | | | | Some question the costs of the wood biomass |
| and solar power combined. Still, biomass has the | | | | power plant process. Many bring up the fact that |
| potential to supply more renewable energy power | | | | wood is bulky, heavy, and expensive to transport. |
| and benefit the environment. | | | | This can be combated with the fact that much of |
| The concept of wood biomass, although gaining | | | | the wood that could be used for biomass |
| popularity in recent years, has been used since | | | | purposes is waste that would otherwise be |
| the beginning of time when our ancestors used | | | | transported to landfills. Assuming the length and |
| fire as a renewable energy source, i.e., the energy | | | | time spent transporting the wood to a biomass |
| it contains comes from the sun. Although the | | | | unit is limited, the ecological and socio-economic |
| process sounds complicated, it is quite simple. | | | | benefits of having a renewable energy source far |
| Through the photosynthesis process, chlorophyll in | | | | outweighs the cost of processing wood biomass. |
| plants captures the sun's energy as it converts | | | | Another concern that many have is the cost of |
| carbon dioxide (from air and water in the ground) | | | | boilers. Although this is no doubt a costly process, |
| into carbohydrates (i.e., complex compounds | | | | modern biomass burners are extremely efficient |
| comprised of carbon, hydrogen, and oxygen). | | | | and are even designed to generate electricity that |
| When the biomass burns in the case of wood, the | | | | can burn as cleanly as those that use natural gas. |
| carbohydrates are turned back into carbon dioxide | | | | Presuming that the biomass process could be |
| and water; hence, the sun's energy that was | | | | implemented across the country, the need to rely |
| once contained, is now released. As a result, the | | | | on foreign suppliers of natural gas and energy |
| biomass is a way of storing solar energy. | | | | would become obsolete, or at a minimum |
| A less scientific way of understanding how wood | | | | extremely diminished. In addition, we would not |
| biomass works is that waste wood, tree | | | | subject ourselves to the rising prices of natural |
| branches, and other forestry residue are placed | | | | gas. This would not only benefit our economic |
| into huge hoppers which is then fed into a furnace | | | | standing as a country, but also protect our |
| where it is burned. The heat is used to boil water | | | | environment as it reduces global warming. |
| in the biomass boiler, and the energy in the steam | | | | Wood biomass would bring a variety of |
| is used to turn turbines and generators. Bio-fuels | | | | environmental benefits ranging from the reduction |
| are seen by many as a way to reduce the | | | | of air and water pollution, reduction of erosion (as |
| amount of carbon dioxide released into the | | | | grasses and poplar trees are planted in buffers |
| atmosphere by using biomass to replace | | | | and ploughing is reduced), enhancements of soil |
| non-renewable sources of energy. This, in turn, | | | | quality (as forest residuals are removed in some |
| would help reduce global warming. | | | | forests to allow replanting of productive tree |
| In 2003, a study was conducted by a non-profit | | | | species), and improvements in wildlife habitat. In |
| organization called Local Energy that investigated | | | | addition, biomass reduces harmful air pollutants |
| how wood biomass and other organic material | | | | including carbon dioxide and sulphur dioxide by up |
| could be used to generate heat. It was concluded | | | | to 90% compared with fossil fuels. |
| that about 20,000 tons of biomass would be | | | | By considering the concepts above, one can gain |
| required to heat downtown Santa Fe, New | | | | a greater understanding as to how wood biomass |
| Mexico for a year. Although this may seem like a | | | | can be used to increase renewable energy |
| significant amount, more than that is available | | | | sources, improve the economy as we become |
| from construction waste, sawmill waste, and the | | | | self-sufficient, and support numerous |
| thinning of forests. Instead of using the funds that | | | | environmental benefits. |
| are normally spent to take this wood waste to a | | | | |