Tapping the energy potential in our backyards

The Christian Science Monitor
March 31, 2009 edition

Earth Talk: Biomass has significant ecofriendly potential for power and heat, experts say.

Q: There’s a lot of talk today about solar and wind power, but what about biomass? How big a role might this renewable energy source play in our future? Couldn’t everyday people burn their own lawn and leaf clippings to generate power?– Deborah Welch, Niagara Falls, N.Y.

A: The oldest and most prevalent source of renewable energy known to man, biomass is already a mainstay of energy production in the United States and elsewhere. Since such a wide variety of biomass resources is available – from trees and grasses to forestry, agricultural, and urban wastes – biomass promises to play a continuing role in providing power and heat for millions of people around the world.

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