Energy from biomass has a very positive reputation as a solution to both offset the impact hydrocarbons are having on climate change and also a strong potential player to reduce energy security challenges. To maintain this position and the support the industry enjoys, some basic issues need to be considered regarding the sustainable production of biomass. For starters, while agriculture residues are a promising source, their removal must be undertaken with due regard to good soil husbandry. For dedicated biomass crops, while the economics of growing these on quality farm lands now producing food products probably does not work, the downside of doing so would open the issue of indirect land use which basically works like this. If a biomass crop displaces an acre of corn, soybeans, wheat or other food crop it will need to be produced elsewhere, perhaps on new land that was previously rainforest.  While the science behind this concept may be somewhat lacking, the issue is a huge concern to influential environmentalists and should not be overlooked.

However, there are large acreages of abandoned or low quality farm lands that may be perfectly suitable for dedicated biomass crops such as switchgrass which once grew as a monoculture throughout much of North America. Furthermore, while land may be marginal for high risk and high input cost annual row crops, it may be economically suitable for dedicated perennial biomass production.  Communities with such land including extensive CRP holdings have a particularly attractive potential as a significant biomass provider.

For the forestry industry which has long been a supplier of biomass such as lumber and pulp for non energy purposes, sustainability and environmental issues are generally well defined and understood. 

Energy from biomass has a very positive reputation as a solution to both offset the impact hydrocarbons are having on climate change and also a strong potential player to reduce energy security challenges. To maintain this position and the support the industry enjoys, some basic issues need to be considered regarding the sustainable production of biomass. For starters, while agriculture residues are a promising source, their removal must be undertaken with due regard to good soil husbandry. For dedicated biomass crops, while the economics of growing these on quality farm lands now producing food products probably does not work, the downside of doing so would open the issue of indirect land use which basically works like this. If a biomass crop displaces an acre of corn, soybeans, wheat or other food crops it will need to be produced elsewhere, perhaps on new land that was previously rain forest.  While the science behind this concept may be somewhat lacking, the issue is a huge concern to influential environmentalists and should not be overlooked.