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Biomass to Bio-Energy

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According to the United States Department of Energy (DOE), 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.

The DOE promotes biomass as a tremendous opportunity to use domestic and sustainable resources to provide its fuel, power, and chemical needs from plants and plant-derived materials.

DOE Supports Renewable Energy

The Department of Energy's Renewable Energy Biomass Program, run by the Office of Energy Efficiency and Renewable Energy, includes major programs for developing and improving technology for biomass power; for making Biofuels such as ethanol (from biomass residues as well as grain) and renewable diesel; and for making plastics and chemicals from renewable, bio-based materials.

The EPA states, "American dependence on foreign energy sources and subsequent security issues, development of technologies that aid in transitioning to a hydrogen energy economy; the introduction of technologies that can respond to future legislation constraining the release of carbon oxides, and the enhancement of rural power production," as reasons for industry to explore the Biofuels.