Environmental and Energy Study Institute

On October 31, 2007, the Environmental and Energy Study Institute (EESI) held a Congressional briefing about the extensive biomass resources that are available in every state and region of the country to be tapped for sustainable production of electric power and heat. In 2005, bioenergy was the largest component of renewable electricity production in the nation, comprising 56 percent of all renewable electricity and 1.3 percent of total electricity. This percentage can be increased significantly since each state has important biomass resources that can be utilized sustainably to produce clean, renewable, domestic energy right now. Despite the skepticism of its opponents, bioenergy has the potential to sustainably reduce greenhouse gas emissions, boost rural economies, provide jobs, revitalize rural communities, support farming, and implement sustainable forest stewardship.

Assessments have determined that it would be possible to sustainably harvest at least 350 million dry tons of forest biomass, logging debris, and secondary wood residues per year. Additionally, as much as 1 billion dry tons of biomass from agricultural resources, including crop residues, dedicated energy crops, and animal manure could be made available for energy production. Although these resources vary from state to state, no state or region is without a sustainable biomass resource. Energy can be produced from, among other things, the thinnings and low-quality trees harvested as part of fuel reduction and wildfire treatments in the extensive western region, dedicated crops and agricultural residues from the enormous farmland base of the central states, and logging residues and wood waste from the managed forests and forest products industries of the Southeast and the Pacific Northwest. Other sources of useable biomass include clean urban wood waste, livestock manure, food industry residues, and, in some cases, municipal waste. In addition to heat and power, estimates indicate that up to 30 percent of liquid transportation fuels can be produced from the biomass resource.

This briefing addressed a number of regionally appropriate technologies and feedstocks, as well as economic considerations. Topics included heat and electric power production, the biorefinery model for production of cellulosic biofuels, integrated production, biomass co-firing, wood pellet technologies, high-efficiency combustion, supply-chains, infrastructure, biomass assessment, and the creation of jobs through emerging industries.

Speakers included:

• Larry Biles, Executive Director, Southern Forest Research Partnership
  Presentation (pdf)

• Robert H. Davis, President, Forest Energy Corporation/Member, Future Forest, LLC
  Presentation (pdf)

• Dr. David Bransby, Professor of Energy Crops and Bioenergy, Auburn University
  Presentation (pdf)

• Robert E. Cleaves, President, Cleaves and Company/Member, USA Biomass Power Producers Alliance
  Presentation (pdf)

Audio Recording of Briefing and Q&A

More Information on EESI's Forestry Initiative

• Western Governor's Assocation
  Biomass Task Force Report

• Pinchot Insitute
  National Forests Certification Study

• Union of Concerned Scientists
  The Southeastern United States Can Benefit from a National Renewable Electricity Standard (pdf)