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Renewable Energy US DEPARTMENT OF ENERGY (www.eere.energy.gov) Increasing the role of biomass in America's energy future will help to improve our economy, environment, and energy security. Existing Federal and State biomass-related policies, along with other legislation that drives biomass R&D has facilitated the adoption of biomass technologies that decrease US dependence on foreign oil and reap other benefits. Pending policies and legislation, if enacted into law, could increase the adoption rate for biomass technologies. Some examples of prominent proposed incentives for biomass use are: Renewable Fuel Standard Renewable Portfolio Standard Why is biomass so important? Well, a quick summary of biomass benefits are listed below: Biomass and the U.S. Economy: Cheap oil fuels America's economy - most of which is imported. Small changes in crude oil prices or supplies can have an enormous impact on our economy - increasing trade deficits, decreasing in industrial investment, and lowering employment levels. Developing a strong industry for biomass fuels, power, and products in the United States will have tremendous economic benefits including trade deficit reduction, job creation, and the strengthening of agricultural markets. Biomass and U.S. Energy Security: According to the EIA, in 2002 the United States consumed 19.3M barrels of petroleum (crude oil and petroleum products) per day, or about one-quarter of total world oil production. More than half of that oil is imported and is mostly used in the transportation sector. One way to diversity our energy supply and to build economic security is to increase our consumption of renewable energy sources, such as biomass-derived transportation fuels (e.g. E10, E85, B20, or B100). Biomass and the Environment: Biomass is a renewable energy and its usage has several environmental benefits. Growing biomass, (e.g. energy crops like switch grass), has important land, habitat, and soil conservation benefits. Producing energy from residues in forests, mills and landfills avoids the release of methane into the atmosphere from decomposition of unused wood and agricultural wastes. Depending upon how much fossil energy is used to grow and process biomass feedstock, the result is a substantial reduction of net greenhouse gas emissions. Most importantly, biomass is the only renewable energy that can be directly substituted for petroleum based transportation fuels, which account for one-third of US's CO2 emissions - one of the principal greenhouse gases. Much of this CO2 and other harmful emissions can be alleviated by substituting bio-fuels for fossil fuels or by using them as fuel additives such as ethanol. SUSTAINABLE ENERGY COALITION Biomass Biomass is stored solar energy that can be converted to electricity or fuel. Because biomass reduces greenhouse gas emissions and is abundantly available in the United States, it is capable of simultaneously addressing the nation's energy, environmental, and economic needs. Benefits of biomass Increased use of biomass for energy would lead directly to the following: Reduced greenhouse gas emissions Reduced dependence on foreign oil Improved U.S. balance of trade Improved rural economy Major new American industry What is biomass made of? Biomass is comprised of plant material, either raw or processed, such as: Wood waste, such as sawdust and tree pruning Uses of biomass Biomass can produce electricity, liquid fuels, gaseous fuels, and a variety of useful chemicals, including those currently manufactured from petroleum. Because the energy in biomass is less concentrated than the energy in fossil fuels, new technologies are required to make this energy resource competitive with coal, oil, and natural gas. Industry and agriculture need superior energy crops and cost-effective conversion technologies to expand the use of renewable biomass. How much biomass is currently being used as a fuel source? At present, the world population uses only about 7% of the annual production of biomass. There is an abundance of biomass that we can tap. How much biomass is used for energy today? Worldwide, biomass is the fourth largest energy resource after coal, oil, and natural gas. It is used for heating (such as wood stoves in homes and for process heat in bio-processing industries), cooking (especially in many parts of the developing world), transportation (fuels such as ethanol) and, increasingly, for electric power production. There are estimates of about 35,000 MW of installed capacity using biomass worldwide, with about 7,000 of that in the United States. Most of this capacity is in the pulp and paper industry in combined heat and power systems. For More Information: American Bioenergy Association Clean Fuels Development Coalition Clean Fuels Foundation Environmental and Energy Study Institute Global Biorefineries, Inc. Pellet Fuels Institute Renewable Energy Policy Project Renewable Fuels Association Union of Concerned Scientists Data Monitor October 2004 SEVEN MILLION EUROPEANS COULD SWITCH TO GREEN ENERGY New research from independent market analyst Data Monitor has found that more than seven million European energy customers in six countries across Europe could switch to green energy by 2008, if offered the right incentives by their utility companies. While acceptance of green tariffs is currently less than 1% of the customer base in most countries, Data Monitor believes that the example of the Netherlands, where over two million (30% of customers) have signed up to renewable energy sources, suggests that environmental sentiment could become a powerful force. To date, it says, governments have done little to encourage green tariffs at the residential level, preferring to place responsibility on generators and utilities to supply certain amounts of green energy. "The household customer’s involvement has therefore been minimal, with many still unaware they can choose green energy, or even what it entails," a report says. "Customer confusion and ignorance regarding green options is a consequence of utilities believing green energy to be little more than a tool with which to improve their corporate image." Research found 75% of leading European utility executives believed this was green energy’s most important contribution, with just two citing the environment as the driving force behind their green tariff options. Data Monitor estimates Europe’s total market potential for premium green energy to be more than 35 million customers, or nearly 23% of the customer base. However, fewer than 1% of Europeans are currently on a green tariff. The key barrier is not necessarily the product on offer, but customer understanding and trust. Analyst Alex Patient commented, "Utilities have been wary of targeting a market perceived to be expensive and with few rewards. However, best practices demonstrated by Dutch and American utilities in particular show this need not be the case, and that there are significant benefits in terms of image, customer loyalty, and customer value. If utilities are to succeed in developing the green market’s vast potential, not only must they assign larger and sustained budgets to marketers, but they must also adopt the emotionally driven marketing theories applicable to this non-standard product range."   INVESTOR UPDATE Green Energy Resources 2007 Year-End Financials Kyoto Update Free Forest Environmental Certification and Marketing of Carbon Credits Offered by Green Energy Resources In The News Green Energy Resources Drops merger offer from Dolberry Energy Global Focus Green Energy Resources Targets 10% of China Coal Market by 2012 Biofuel Industry Japan Launches cellulosic ethanol initiative to power 40,000 vehicles Archives >> Click HERE to Purchase Carbon Credits
We at Green Energy Resources encourage generating utilities, municipalities, corporations and citizens to turn their reclaimed wood into renewable energy and wood fiber biomass alternatives to fossil fuels.
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