Bioenergy technologies use renewable biomass resources to produce an array of energy related products including electricity, liquid, solid, and gaseous fuels, heat, chemicals, and other materials. Today, the U.S. Department of Energy reports bioenergy resources such as agricultural products, forest products, and waste-derived fuels meet more than 3% of the nation's energy needs. Concerns about weakening economic conditions on the nation's farms, global climate change and clean air, clean water, rising oil imports, and restructuring of the utility industry could require the bioenergy industries to increase production of clean and affordable feedstocks, fuels, and technologies.
What is biomass?
The term "biomass" means any plant derived organic matter available on a renewable basis, including dedicated energy crops and trees, agricultural food and feed crops, agricultural crop wastes and residues, wood wastes and residues, aquatic plants, animal wastes, municipal wastes, and other waste materials. Biomass is often viewed as stored solar energy. Handling technologies, collection logistics and infrastructure are important aspects of the biomass resource supply chain.
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American Bioenergy Association (ABA). ABA is broad and diverse, yet its mission is focused. ABA represent ethanol fuel producers, biomass power producers, chemical companies, utilities, farmers, equipment manufacturers, environmental groups, the forest products industry as well as non-traditional allies and partners who support the goals of promoting the economic and environmental benefits of biomass utilization.
Biofuels-U.S. Department of Agriculture (USDA). The USDA Agricultural Research Service maintains a web site summarizing USDA biofuels research programs. The site contains ethanol and biodiesel research programs, economic and business information, and internet links to biofuel resources.
Bioenergy-Energy Efficiency and Renewable Energy Network (EREN). The bioenergy web site provided by EREN is an excellent source of information on biomass resources, biopower, biofuels, biobased chemicals and materials, and integrated bioenergy systems and assessments.
Bioenergy Feedstock Development Program (BFDM). The BFDM is managed at Oak Ridge National Laboratory in Oak Ridge, Tennessee. The Program is focused on developing environmentally acceptable crops and cropping systems for large-scale production of biomass.
Biofuels Information Center (BMC). The BMC is managed at the National Renewable Energy Laboratory (NREL) in Golden, Colorado and maintains technical information on biofuels conversion research conducted under U.S. Department of Energy supervision from 1980 to the present.
Biomass Research & Development Initiative. The Biomass Initiative is the multi-agency effort to coordinate and accelerate all Federal biobased products and bioenergy research and development.
Biopower- Energy Efficiency and Renewable Energy Network (EREN). The U.S. Department of Energy began the Biomass Power Program in 1991 to expand the use of renewable energy from biomass. This web site is an excellent overview of DOE’s most recent biopower programs.
National Biodiesel Board (NBB). NBB has established itself as the creator of the biodiesel market in the United States. We will continue to be an integral part of the overall exchange of information for the biodiesel commercialization effort, which includes all feedstock providers, government agencies, customers, engine manufacturers, fuel providers, and other interested parties. NBB has developed minimum quality standards and a system to register fuel suppliers assuring a high quality fuel supply and consumer confidence.
The mission of the Northeast Regional Biomass Program (NRBP) is to evaluate biomass technologies and fuels and to provide objective, reliable information to consumers and policy leaders. The NRBP carries out its mission through an extensive network of local, state, and national government organizations, and partnerships with private industry.
Renewable Fuels Association (RFA). The RFA is a national trade organization for the U.S. fuel ethanol industry. RFA has been working on behalf of the industry since 1981 to secure a strong marketplace for ethanol. As the "voice of the ethanol industry," the RFA is dedicated to the continued vitality and growth of ethanol in the fuel marketplace.