EESI Discusses Biomass, Bioenergy, and Sustainability With State Environmental Legislators

by Ned Stowe (Environmental and Energy Study Institute) EESI Policy Associate Ned Stowe recently gave a presentation on biomass, bioenergy, and sustainability to the 11th Annual Great Lakes Environmental Legislators Forum of the National Caucus of Environmental Legislators in Chicago, IL. The presentation addressed questions such as: What is the potential for biomass energy in the region? Is it sustainable? Is it climate-friendly? Is it clean?
Biomass can play a critical role addressing the nation’s climate, energy, economic, and environmental challenges, providing the feedstocks for biofuels, biopower, bioheat, biomass combined heat and power, and bio-based products. However, assuring sustainability is key.
The Great Lakes region produces a LOT of biomass annually and there is significant potential to displace fossil fuels with biomass energy. However, most of the region’s biomass energy potential remains untapped.
The overall sustainability of biomass and bioenergy production systems depends upon many factors. Local natural resource, environmental, and economic factors play critical roles in determining what types of biomass and bioenergy systems will be most appropriate and sustainable over time for a given locale. The type of biomass, the way it is produced, the way it is converted to energy, and the scale of production, can all affect the overall sustainability of a bioenergy system over time. READ MORE includes PowerPoint presentation with focus on forest resources, woody biomass