What is Biomass?

Biomass consists of renewable organic materials and includes forestry and agricultural crops and residues, wood and food processing wastes, and municipal solid waste. Louisiana generates increasing tonnage of biomass waste annually. Much of these materials are disposed at significant financial and environmental costs to companies and citizens of the state.

Louisiana Biomass Resources

In Louisiana, our larger quantity biomass resources consist mainly of sugarcane bagasse, filter press cake, bagasse ash, rice hulls, cotton gin trash and waste charcoal.

Pulp and paper mills are numerous in the state, however; forest processing residue is in demand by nurseries, landscaping businesses, and industrial plants as fuel. Alternative biomass resources available in smaller quantities are Johnason grass, kenaf, bamboo cane, giant ragweed, thistles, tree trimmings, sugarcane leaves and tops, rice and wheat straw, waste water, pecan shells and piths, construction and forest residues, and "weed trees" such as shade mulberry, tallow "chicken" trees, and black willow. Animal wastes include manure, poultry litter, dairy lagoon solids and race track stable bedding.

With advancing technology, the federal government and a number of states have established formalized coordination efforts to increase the capture of energy and value-added products from these waste materials.

Louisiana, by virtue of its productive agriculture and forestry industries, has substantial bioenergy and bioproduct potential in comparison with other states. Although Louisiana is rich in biomass resources, the awareness of the presence of these resources is very limited. Therefore, one of the primary needs of the state is to increase this awareness. To accomplish this objective RCL was formed.

RCL, formerly known as the Louisiana Biomass Council, was established under a contract with the Louisiana Department of Natural Resources through the Southern University Center for Energy and Environmental Studies. The primary focus of RCL is to promote economic development, environmental improvement, energy conservation and efficiency, and conventional energy demand reduction through statewide planning and coordination of biomass resources and waste utilization in Louisiana. RCL is currently looking for support to explore the feasibility of a biorefinery demonstration project in the state.

RCL has been formed to organize practitioners, experts and individuals interested in converting renewable organic resources into energy or commercial products. The council will provide information needed as the basis for future waste-to-energy policy and economic development opportunities through energy development programs. The council will coordinate its activities with various state departments and agencies, local government, business, and act as a catalyst for increased biomass activity in Louisiana.