GREEN CHEMISTRY

Biomass is an energy resource derived from plant- and algae-based material that includes crop wastes, forest residues, purpose-grown grasses, woody energy crops, algae, industrial wastes, sorted municipal solid waste, urban wood waste, and food waste. Biomass is the only renewable energy source that can offer a viable supplement to petroleum-based liquid transportation fuels—such as gasoline, jet, and diesel fuel in the near to mid-term. It can also be used to produce valuable chemicals for manufacturing, as well as power to supply the grid. A collaborative and multidisciplinary in-depth analysis by the U.S. Department of Energy determined that the United States has the capacity to sustainably produce over 1 billion tons of biomass annually—and still meet demands for food, feed, and fiber. Bioenergy is renewable energy made available from materials derived from biological sources. Biomass is any organic material which has stored sunlight in the form of chemical energy. As a fuel it may include wood, wood waste, straw, manure, sugarcane, and many other by-products from a variety of agricultural processes. Bioenergy is one of the many diverse resources available to help meet our demand for energy. It is classified as a form of renewable energy derived from biomass organic material that can be used to produce heat, electricity, transportation fuels, and products.