Biomass Power Generates Traction

Wall Street Journal BUSINESS
JUNE 1, 2009
By RUSSELL GOLD

While solar power is taking root in the sunny Southwest and wind power is growing in the blustery band from the Dakotas to Texas, other places are turning to trees and grass as their best bet for producing renewable energy, leading to a new building boom in "biomass" power plants.

Electric utilities may soon face new rules requiring them to generate 20% of their power from renewable sources by 2020, according to terms in a bill to combat climate change being considered by the House of Representatives. While the cost of generating solar and wind power is declining, making them increasingly attractive options, not all places have enough wind or sunshine to make power generation practical.

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