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Spheres of Influence
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David J. Tenenbaum Abstract
A new federally funded report takes a look at how harnessing the energy locked within plant sources could help the United States overcome its dependence on fossil fuels. According to the report, American acreage could, with some changes in land use and agricultural and forestry practices, produce enough biomass by 2030 to displace at least 30% of today’s U.S. consumption of petroleum fuels ; with advanced conversion technologies, that figure could reach 50%. Experts acknowledge that for this venture to be sustainable, it must include provisions for ensuring soil fertility and forest health. An ongoing debate centers on determining exactly how much energy can be gained from biomass.
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