An Interagency Strategic Plan Prepared In 

Response to “The Biomass Research and 

Development Act of 2000” 

and the Executive Order 13134: 

“Developing and Promoting Biobased Products and Bioenergy” 

by the Biomass Research and Development Board

January 2001

Fostering the

Bioeconomic

Revolution ...

. . . in Biobased Products

and Bioenergy

an Environmental Approach
An Interagency Strategic Plan Prepared In 

Response to “The Biomass Research and 

Development Act of 2000 “

and the Executive Order 13134: 

“Developing and Promoting Biobased Products and Bioenergy” 

by the Biomass Research and Development Board

Current Member Agencies:

Department of Agriculture (USDA) (co-chair)

Department of Energy (DOE) (co-chair)

National Science Foundation (NSF)

Environmental Protection Agency (EPA)

Department of Interior (DOI)

Office of Science and Technology Policy (OSTP)

Participating Agencies:

Department of Commerce (DOC)

Federal Environmental Executive (FEE)

Office of Management and Budget (OMB)

Department of the Treasury (Treasury)

Tennessee Valley Authority (TVA)
Fostering the

Bioeconomic

Revolution ...

. . . in Biobased Products

and Bioenergy

an Environmental Approach

1

Contents

Message from the Board Co-Chairs 2

Executive Summary 3

A Time and Consensus for Action 4

Challenges and Opportunities 6

Key Examples 6

Biobased Products 9

Bioenergy 12

Initiative Goals 15

Technology Development Goals 16

Market and Public Policy Goals 17

Strategies Common to all Goals 19

Examples of Actions to Reach the 20

National Goal 

Appendix I. Federal Government Programs 21

Relevant to Biobased Products and Bioenergy

and their Web Sites

Appendix II. Agencies and Their Missions 24

Appendix IlI. Glossary of Terms 26
2

Message from the Board Co-Chairs

Today we are witnessing the beginning of revolutionary developments in biosciences and engineering that during this century will transform life as we know it. Among these developments are

opportunities to develop economically competitive alternatives to fossil energy resources and to

significantly reduce U.S. dependency on foreign oil; vastly expand, improve, and reduce the cost

of consumer and industrial products;improve the environment;greatly increase opportunities for

U.S. industries (particularly in the rural, farm, and forest economies); and reinvigorate U.S.

exports. Yet,the speed and degree of these changes largely depend on how wisely and effectively we work together as a national partnership of industries,academia,federal,state,and local governments, and non-government organizations to develop and harness biobased products and

bioenergy.

When the President issued his Executive Order on Developing and Promoting Biobased Products

and Bioenergy,he also issued a challenge.This was not only a challenge to triple the nation’s use

of biobased products and bioenergy by 2010.Nor was it only a challenge to promote and accelerate a viable, integrated industry that would enable the nation to reach or exceed that goal.

Rather,it was a challenge to the way we have done business—to the way we,as federal agencies

and departments,have viewed our roles and our relationships.

Traditionally,federal agencies have had an insular view of biomass.Some have viewed it from the

perspective of wood and paper products.Others have viewed it from an agricultural perspective,

concerned with planting, harvesting, processing, and distributing crops and derived products,

including some liquid fuels. Some have been involved with its use as a source of energy in the

forms of electricity and heat, usually coupled with the management of biomass residues. Others

have dealt with the environmental effects of planting,processing,distributing,and using biomass.

Some have vested interests in the interstate commerce of biomass-derived goods.Several federal

agencies have instituted government policies that spurred the growth of power and fuels from

biomass and increased the use of recycled products. And most have been concerned with the

relevant sciences and technologies.

If we are to accelerate the development and growth of an integrated 21st century industry, then

the challenge is to move beyond these narrow points of view.We must recognize that the scope

of biomass, bioprocessing, biotechnology, biobased products, and bioenergy is not limited to

food,wood,chemicals,fuels,or power alone.Rather,it embraces all of these fields and more,and

encompasses all agencies— their missions, and all of the relevant policies, sciences, and technologies.

With this strategic plan we are beginning to meet this challenge.We are beginning to overcome

the boundaries and reach within and across federal agencies and departments for the common

good of the nation and the benefit of the American industry. This is a groundbreaking step.

For the past year,Board agencies and departments have discussed,analyzed,negotiated,and crafted a strategic plan for the federal agencies and departments.This is a plan to meet the national

goal, enhance science and technology, help us educate the public, and stimulate the healthy

growth of an essential 21st-century industry. After presenting a situation analysis of biobased

products and bioenergy as they exist today and their promise for the future, the plan also introduces science,technology,and policy goals and strategies to achieve the National Vision.

This strategic plan,however,represents only a first step in a long process.It is a living,evolving federal government strategy.We will continually update the plan to reflect evolving national needs,

policies and market conditions,and the revolutionary advances in biobased products and bioenergy that this plan will foster.

Miley Gonzales Dan W.Reicher

Undersecretary Assistant Secretary

Research,Education and Economics Office of Energy Efficiency and

U.S.Department of Agriculture Renewable Energy

U.S.Department of Energy
The Revolution. A revolution spurred by expanded use of renewable biobased products and bioenergy will have enormous impacts in the 21st century. Today, America depends on biomass to provide 3 percent of its energy and more than 300 billion pounds of products annually. Yet, propelled by

advances in biological and physical sciences and

engineering, America has the opportunity to greatly accelerate its use of biomass.

The Importance. This revolution will have important impacts on our:

• Economy—stimulating growth, especially in rural,

farm and forest economies, and our industries.

• Environment—by reducing emissions of carbon

dioxide and airborne pollutants, reducing soil erosion, sequestering carbon, protecting water supplies and quality, and increasing the diversity of

crops and products. 

• Energy security—by increasing domestic production and reducing our enormous dependence

on foreign sources of fossil fuels.

• Competitive position—opening up new technologies, industries, and export opportunities.

The Consensus:

• The National Academy of Sciences recognized

the predominant impact that biological sciences

will have on industry and technology in the 21st

century.

• The President proclaimed the importance of

biobased products and bioenergy by establishing

a national goal to triple their use in the United

States by 2010. 

• The U.S. Congress acknowledged the exceptional potential of biobased products and bioenergy

by enacting the Biomass Research and

Development Act of 2000.

• Industry, government laboratories, academia,

and others recognized the importance of

biobased products and bioenergy and are developing strategic planning documents including

visions and technology roadmaps.

The Challenges:

• Science and technology — we need to advance

science and develop technologies to overcome

difficulties posed by the complexity of biomass

resources and processes.

• Policies–we need to coordinate government policies to meet the national goal.

• Markets —we need to accelerate the commercialization of new and emerging technologies and

products to meet the national goal.

• Environment—we seek to ensure that new technologies and increased use of biomass will not

adversely affect our land, water, air, and public

health, but rather provide environmental benefits.

• Education and Outreach — we need to provide

American institutions, industry, farmers,

landowners, and the public with information that

will help them understand biobased products

and bioenergy and make wise decisions in their

application. An informed public is critical to the

decision-making process.

• Integration — we need to coordinate efforts

across federal and state programs, educational

organizations, businesses, and technologies to

encourage the growth of an integrated industry.

The Plan. This plan describes the federal 

strategy for meeting these challenges and attaining

the national goal of tripling the use of biobased products and bioenergy by 2010. It is built on a strong

foundation of science and technology, policy, and

market goals, and strategies. The goals are summarized below and detailed in the pages that follow.

3

Executive Summary

Technology Goals 

• Reduce by two- to ten-fold costs of technologies for integrated supply, conversion, manufacturing, and

application systems for biobased products and bioenergy by 2010.

• Accelerate commercial readiness and acceptance of integrated biobased products and bioenergy 

systems for fuels, heat, power, chemicals, and materials.

• Assess environmental and ecosystem impacts of, and enhance the benefits of, biobased products 

and bioenergy systems at all stages of development.

• Foster innovation-driven science of biomass feedstocks, biobased products, and bioenergy and quickly

incorporate these scientific results in the relevant technology-development activities.

Market and Public Policy Goals

• Coordinate policies to achieve early market adoption of biobased products and bioenergy and create

demand for biobased products and bioenergy.

• Increase federal government purchases or production of bioenergy to 5 percent and relevant biobased products purchases to 10 percent by 2010.

• Facilitate tripling the use of emerging biobased products and bioenergy by 2010 in a manner that is consistent with federal resource conservation and environmental policies.
Products and energy based on biological processes and resources will help provide the nation with

a healthy, growing, productive, and sustainable

economy. They will help relieve environmental

pressures, improve our rural economy, reduce our

balance of payments, and enhance our energy

security. Furthermore, they will help the United

States maintain its global economic leadership.

Recognizing this potential, the President issued an

Executive Order on Developing and Promoting

Biobased Products and Bioenergy (64FR 44639 –

Executive Order 13134) on August 12, 1999. The

Order and Executive Menorandum call for coordination of federal efforts to accelerate the development of 21st century biobased industries and to

triple the U. S. use of new and emerging biobased

products and bioenergy by 2010. This will involve

development of a comprehensive national strategy,

including the following:

• Research and development (R&D) and demonstration.

• Education and outreach. 

• Supportive policy actions.

• Incentives to stimulate the creation and early

adoption of technologies needed to make

biobased products and bioenergy competitive

with fossil-fuel-based alternatives.

Following the President’s lead, the U.S. Congress

enacted The Biomass Research and Development

Act of 2000 (Title III of the Agricultural Risk

Protection Act of 2000, H.R. 2559 – Public Law

106-224) on June 20, 2000. This Act complements

many aspects of the Executive Order. It directs the

Secretary of Agriculture and the Secretary of

Energy to jointly submit a report that describes the

research and development goals of the initiative,

and the resources required to reach those goals.

As required by both the Executive Order and the

Act, integration of federal efforts is underway.

Historically, the Department of Agriculture (USDA)

and the Department of Energy (DOE) have performed more than 90 percent of the federal R&D

on biobased products and bioenergy. The National

Science Foundation (NSF), the Environmental

Protection Agency (EPA), and the Department of

Commerce (DOC) also have programs and projects

A Time and Consensus for Action

The National Vision

Provide technology and market development for a strong industry that will create new economic opportunities for rural America, protect and enhance our environment, strengthen U.S. energy and economic

security, and bring improved products to consumers.

The National Goal

Triple the U.S. use of emerging biobased products and bioenergy by 2010. (See Figure 1)

The Federal Mission

Accelerate the research, development, delivery, and adoption of technologies needed to make biobased

products and bioenergy competitive in national and international markets. Concurrently, promote the 

efficient use of our renewable resources and protect the environment.

The National Partnership

Many different industries, academia across multiple disciplines, government across several agencies 

at federal, state, and local levels, and many non-government organizations will cooperate to make the

national vision a reality.

We are entering the 21st century at the vanguard of a revolution in biology. The National

Academy of Sciences has stated that the “Biological sciences are likely to make the same

impact on the formation of new industries in the [new] century as the physical and chemical sciences have had on industrial development in the [last] century.” From biological

resources we can derive products as diverse as food, feed, building materials, paper,

clothing, fuels and lubricants, chemicals, heat and electricity, and much more. Because of

scientific breakthroughs that are occurring in the biological sciences and in process engineering, we can look forward to a great expansion of biobased products and bioenergy.

4
in support of biobased products and bioenergy

RD&D. These, and other federal agencies, are part

of the Biomass Research and the Development

Board. The mission of the Board is to coordinate

federal efforts in planning, funding, and R&D, and to

accelerate the integration of a biobased U.S. industry and the development and commercialization of

biobased products and bioenergy.

The Board’s endeavors have already resulted in

several coordinated efforts, including: 

• Report to the President on Executive Order 13134.*

• Development of a national vision statement by

industry and other stakeholders facilitated by DOE. 

• Competitive Fiscal Year (FY) 2000 solicitations for

R&D on biobased products and bioenergy will provide for 100 awards ($50 million) covering a wide

range of topics, including integration (DOE and

USDA). 

• Establishment of the Biomass Research and

Development Act Technical Advisory Committee. 

• A joint budget of $289 million for FY 2001 R&D

was requested for DOE and USDA, of which

$230 million were appropriated. The overall

DOE and USDA R&D appropriation is at the

same total level of the federal FY 1998 inventory

shown in Figure 2 (FY 1998 is the baseline year

of the inventory, including the disposition of

grants by technical area by agency).

• In FY 2001 and FY 2002 the USDA will provide

up to $150 million annually to encourage

increased purchases of commodities by companies for expanded production of biofuels.

• Expertise is being leveraged across agencies

and between government and industry.

The strategy presented in this document is based

on programs, projects, and plans from the relevant

participating agencies, on input from a wide range

of public and private stakeholders, and on planning

documents produced for a variety of biobased

technologies. It presents a high-level summary of

the emerging national strategy. It provides the first

integrated approach to policies and procedures

that will promote R&D and demonstration leading

to accelerated production of biobased products

and bioenergy. This summary is backed up by

more detailed companion documents including:

• The federal inventory of activities concerning

biobased products and bioenergy.

• Detailed goals, metrics, milestones, and resources.

• The relevant program plans of the government

agencies involved (See appendix I).

Biobased Products and Bioenergy Goals

Triple Output

Emerging Industries

Today 2010

Current baseline for emerging industries:

• ethanol, 1.5 billion gallons

• biodiesel, 6 million gallons

• electricity, 60 billion kWh (from 10 thousand megawatts of capacity)

• emerging products, 10-15 billion pounds (5 - 7.5 million tons).

* The references used to prepare the Strategic 

Plan are cited in the Report to the President (2000) at

http://www.bioproducts-bioenergy.gov/. 

Fiscal Year 1998 Federal R&D Funding – $253 Million

Bioenergy

Biobased 

Products

0

30

60

90

120

150

Other

DOC

EPA NSF DOE USDA Total

U.S. Agencies

Million Dollars

Figure 1. Biobased Products and Bioenergy Goals: Consistent with federal resource conservation and environmental policies, triple output of

emerging industries in fuels, power, and products and facilitate an

increase in efficiency of use in mature industries, with special attention

to application of new and emerging technologies. (Note: triple refers to

specific fuels, power, and products output or any combination).

5

Figure 2. United States Federal investment in biobased products and bioenergy is based on Fiscal Year 1998, the year for which the detailed description of projects could be compiled along with the respective funding levels. 

AREA Funding Percent

in millions of $ of total

Biopower $23.7 9.4%

Natural Structural Materials $17.6 6.9%

Natural Fibers $12.3 4.9%

Integrated Assessments $5.2 2.1%

AREA Funding

Percent

in millions of $ of total

Bioenergy Science $53.5 21.1%

Biofuels $47.5 18.8%

Crosscutting Science of $34.8 13.7%

Biobased Products

Green Chemicals and Plastics $34.7 13.7%

Biomass Resources $24 9.5%
These advances in the science and technology of

biobased products and bioenergy present a great

opportunity to expand our renewable carbonbased industries while simultaneously moving

toward a more environmentally sustainable economy. Biobased products and bioenergy offer considerable environmental benefits. They often require

less energy to produce than the fossil and inorganic products they replace. Biobased products often

reduce waste as well as improve air and water

quality relative to the products they replace. In

addition, biobased products can sequester large

amounts of carbon while adding little if any net carbon emissions to the atmosphere.

However, biological feedstock growth, processing,

and use can pose environmental challenges as

well. Changes in land use, pesticide, fertilizer, water,

and other requirements could carry risks to habitat,

public health, diversity, and air and water quality. To

ensure that this initiative maximizes environmental

benefits and minimizes potential risks, the environmental benefits and costs will be assessed at all

stages, from planning to commercialization.

Biologically-based technologies can often be more

versatile than fossil-based ones. Because of the

great diversity of biomass resources, we can also

create valuable, novel products with exciting new

properties. Whatever products we can make with

fossil fuels, we can make virtually identical or better ones from biomass.

However, the challenges of developing new

biobased products and bioenergy are formidable.

Biomass resources are more complex and harder

to process than petroleum or coal. A large number

of production, conversion, and utilization technologies are possible. There are many ways to integrate

individual technologies. Because of the fast pace of

progress in biological sciences and technologies,

the number of alternatives will increase rapidly.

Some companies could oppose efforts to challenge the status quo. Others, however, are

embracing this life sciences-driven business

opportunity.

We can overcome many of these challenges using

integrated, systematic R&D— to drive innovation,

reduce costs, and to help U.S. industry gain a leading edge in the biology revolution now beginning.

Timely investment by public-private partnerships

will help us gain that edge. For new and emerging

biobased products and bioenergy to more quickly

penetrate the marketplace we need to accelerate

R&D and demonstration, foster commercialization,

facilitate market development, and increase efforts

in education and outreach. To create biobased

products and bioenergy, we must develop integrated plant science, technologies for crop and forest

production, and technologies for converting biomass into fuels, materials, chemicals, electricity

and heat. 

These investments will enable us to explore a wide

variety of pathways through which we will be able

to produce green plants, transform these plants

into cost-competitive products and energy, and

increase the pace at which the products and technologies penetrate the markets. Timely investment

will further enable us to more readily incorporate

environmental principles throughout the plant

growth-conversion-utilization cycle. 

Key Examples

Sugars and biosynthesis gas from biomass are two

examples of building blocks from which we derive

many other products. We support these building

blocks by developing critical technologies such as

biomass hydrolysis and gasification. With these

critical technologies we can unlock a wide range

of products — just like thermal and catalytic cracking did for petroleum in the 20th century, when we

learned to refine crude petroleum into the fuels

and more than 70,000 chemicals used today. 

6

Challenges and Opportunities

Carbon-based products from both fossil and renewable sources play a critical role in our

economy. They are ubiquitous in our fuels, in our packaging and clothes, in our vehicles

and homes, and in our work and leisure activities. Renewable resources such as trees,

grasses, and crops were the primary source for such products until the mid-19th century.

Then gradually, as our understanding of chemical, geological, and physical 

sciences and engineering progressed, and the demands of industrialization grew, fossil

fuels began to replace renewable resources and became the dominant raw material for

energy, chemicals, and products in the 20th century. Today, the cost and security risks of

fossil fuel imports, environmental concerns with increased pollution and with global

greenhouse gas emissions from fossil fuel use, the desire to improve the rural economy,

and breakthroughs in biological sciences, technologies, and processes have renewed our

interest in biobased products and bioenergy.
Sugars. Sugars could be as important to the

bioproducts industry as ethylene is to today’s

petrochemical industry. The chemical industry

uses ethylene as a starting material to make

thousands of consumer products, including polyethylene bags and polyethylene terephthalate

(plastic bottles for soft drinks). Analogously, with

sugars derived from lignocellulosics found in

trees, grasses, or residues from agriculture

crops, we can use fermentation and chemistry to

make hundreds of products including: 

• Alcohols, such as ethanol, glycols, and sorbitol.

Ethanol is used as an oxygenated fuel that

helps reduce toxic air pollutants and increase

gasoline octane numbers. Glycols are used for

making antifreeze, brake fluids, and solvents.

And sorbitol is used in adhesives, as a softening agent, and as a sweetener. 

• Acids, such as lactic acid, which is used for

preparing cheese, soft drinks, and other food

products. It is also developing into a starting

material for biodegradable plastics. 

• Polymers, such as xanthan gum, which is used

as a food-thickening agent and as a gel in

toothpaste, medicines, and paints.

Figure 3 illustrates how this initiative could

reduce the cost of sugars faster than the current plan to create cost-effective starting materials for biobased products and biofuels.

Biosynthesis Gas. Biomass gasification

uses heat to convert solid biomass into a biosynthesis gas— which is primarily a mixture of carbon monoxide and hydrogen, with carbon dioxide, water vapor, and small amounts of tar. Once

this biosynthesis gas is cleaned of tars we can

use it to make: 

• Electricity. We can use biosynthesis gas in

advanced turbines or in fuel cells to produce

electricity at more than twice the efficiency of

today’s combustion systems. By using gasification technology to replace aging power and

heat-generating equipment, the pulp and paper

industry could become energy self-sufficient and

could even export up to 30,000 megawatts of

electricity by 2030.

• Alcohols. One such alcohol is methanol, which

is used in antifreeze solutions, to produce

formaldehyde (used in plastics, germicides,

and fungicides) and other chemicals, and as a

high-performance fuel. 

• Acids.These include acetic acid, which is used in

photographic films, textiles, vinyl plastics, and

polyesters.

• Clean hydrocarbon fuels. Using a FischerTropsch process, synthesis gas is reacted on a

2020

2015

2010

2005

2000

Initiative

Current Plan

Year

Cost Reduction Targets for Sugar

0

3

6

9

¢/lb

S

u

g

ar Figure 3. Although R&D helped reduce costs of sugars from lignocellulosic biomass by a factor of six since 1980, further reduction in cost is

needed for widespread use of sugars for fuels, chemicals, materials, and

other products.

7

Projected Cost of Electricity from Biomass Residues

Integrated Gasification Combined Cycle (BIGCC)

Accelerated BIGCC/Residues

with 1.5¢/kWh Tax Credit 

or Co-product(s)

Accelerated BIGCC/ Residues

 New Natural Gas

 Combined Cycle

(EIA 1999 Projections)

0

1

2

3

4

5

2030

2010

2000

¢/kWh

Year

 New Natural Gas Combined Cycle 

at $5.1/MBtu (4th Quarter, 2000)

Figure 4. Accelerated R&D can reduce the cost of electricity from biomass residues compared to today’s lowest electricity cost from new natural gas using combined-cycle. Biomass electricity costs could be

reduced even further and become competitive earlier if coproducts are

developed quickly. Alternatively, costs can be reduced earlier if production tax credits are maintained over a sufficiently long period of

time to justify private-sector investment, new technology development,

and adoption. (EIA is the Energy Information Administration) (Note:

costs assume municipal financing).
catalyst to make gasoline and diesel fuels. When

this process is used with biosynthesis gas, it produces fuels that are free of sulfur. 

• Other products. This includes many products we

currently make with fossil resources, including

some plastics.

Figure 4 shows how we could use a variety of

strategies to reduce the cost of biomass-generated

electricity to be competitive with electricity generated with natural gas using combined-cycle turbine

technology. Specifically, if we were to use low-cost

biomass residues in accelerated gasification technology development and couple it with combinedcycle turbine technology, biomass electricity would

become cost competitive by 2010. This projection

assumes the Energy Information Administration’s

(EIA) 1999 natural gas cost scenario holds. In the

fourth quarter of 2000, however, we have seen natural gas price nearly double that of the price levels

in the EIA projection (also shown in the figure).

Alternatively, if gasification technologies are developed to make a coproduct and electricity from biomass residues, cost competitiveness with low-cost

natural gas could be reached earlier. If we add production incentives into the mix, biomass electricity

could become competitive before 2005 and would

help increase private-sector investments in these

high-efficiency systems. This initiative will enhance

the realization of early market penetration strategies.

Using biomass and its derivatives as starting materials and intermediates that can be refined into a

variety of products are functions of a biorefinery,

a concept that is analogous to petroleum refineries.

Biorefineries use complex processing strategies to

efficiently produce a diverse and flexible mix of

fuels, electricity, heat, chemicals, and material

products. Today, biorefineries are present in our

agricultural and forest products industries. These

industries have created systems that provide food,

feed, fiber, materials, and some chemicals and

energy as heat and electricity. A variety of products, a few illustrated below, are emerging.

Biobased Products. Two of many important

classes of biobased products are plastics and surfactants. 

• Plastics. The chemical industry today produces

more than 80 billion pounds of plastic products

annually. The great majority of these products are

derived from fossil resources. Biomass resources

account for only a small percentage, many filling

high-price, value-added applications. Accelerated

R&D could help biomass-derived plastics in two

ways. First, it could help lower the costs of a wide

range of biobased plastics, which would then

enable these plastics to penetrate high-volume

applications that could offset increased petroleum-based plastics production. Second, it could

help continue the development of a slate of highquality plastics with unique properties,

which would penetrate many markets

based on their performance. A variety of

important specialty plastics could be

sold at premium prices. Figure 5 shows

the effect that accelerated R&D could

have on the biobased plastics market—

through the development of a wide array

of biobased plastic products at various

prices. The biobased plastics market

could reach 3 billion pounds or more by

2010.

• Surfactants. These compounds are

used primarily in detergents, cleansing

products, and in medications. About 35

percent of today’s surfactants are

derived from biomass resources.

Biobased surfactants include low-price

to high-value products. Accelerated

R&D would enhance the market for

biobased surfactants in all price

ranges. 

Given what R&D could do for just these

two classes of biobased products, imagine the possibilities when applied to biomass natural fibers, wood, starches, cellulose, and lignin polymers. And when

we include R&D to make plants that

Fossil-Based

Plastics

Today

Biobased Plastics

Opportunity

Biobased Plastics

Today

1 Billion lbs

3 Billion lbs

by 2010

80 Billion lbs Total

Biobased Plastics Opportunity

Average Cost, $/lb

Figure 5. Pictorial example of today’s costs and volumes (distribution)

of biobased and fossil-derived plastics. In the future, these distributions

could change markedly, as shown in the center distribution curve.

Biobased products could generate 3 billion pounds or more of products

covering a wide range of costs and volumes by 2010 and significantly

offset petroleum use.

8
directly produce biobased products with new and

improved properties, the possibilities multiply.

A major advantage of expanding biorefineries is

that the starting materials (biomass) are grown in

the United States by fixing carbon dioxide from the

atmosphere through photosynthesis. Biomass, however, is a complex resource. We must pay attention

to the environmental and ecological consequences

of larger-scale biomass production and use and

design environmentally sound processes and

products

Biomass Feedstock. Finally, the common

starting point for all these products is the biomass

feedstock— green plants. Research and development are critical for increasing the supplies of sustainably grown crops and for reducing the cost of

biomass so that it will become America’s green

petroleum of the 21st century.

Feedstock research includes plant science, understanding and using plant productivity factors in

each region of the U.S., and the growth and selection of plants with specific attributes. As selected

plants move into development, cost-effective,

regionally adapted, and environmentally beneficial

crop production methods are needed. Improved

crop harvest, handling, storage, and transportation

methods could further assure reliable biomass

supplies. In this way a broad range of cost-competitive products can be made from biomass feedstock. Figure 6 shows one example of increased

competitive supplies of energy crops if plant science

and technology development were accelerated.

Projecting into the future, a wide array of new

biobased products and bioenergy could position

our nation to reap the benefits of the biological revolution anticipated by the National Academy of

Sciences and others, and to become a global

leader in developing sustainable economic growth

based on biobased products and bioenergy.

In the two sections that follow, we analyze the current situation in biobased products and bioenergy

and indicate how this initiative could spur progress

and help America meet tomorrow’s needs.

Biobased Products 

TODAY

Renewable resources provide more than 300 billion pounds of carbon-based products yearly, primarily derived from forest products. This number

does not include food or feed. The chemical industry

also produces about 300 billion pounds of carbonbased products, the majority of which are derived

from fossil resources. Together, these 600 billion

pounds of materials are used in a wide variety of

consumer products for home, office, leisure, transportation, communications, and industrial applications.

Biobased products can be found in a number of

product categories along with products derived

from fossil and inorganic resources. In many

cases, the lowest cost product is the market winner; and in other cases, the product performance

determines market dominance. In many cases,

biobased products and fossil-derived products are

used together in consumer products. Examples of

the main categories of products are shown on

Table 1. 

The established companies of the pulp, paper, and

packaging, and of the wood products industries

have thousands of industrial plants producing a

myriad of products. In addition, there are about 250

companies that produce a wide range of biobased

product lines (product categories 3-16 of Table 1).

The companies include both large and small businesses, many of which are still developing their

first products. The development of many of these

companies was facilitated by the federal mandated

use of recycled products and by the low cost,

availability, and regenerability of agriculture and

forest products starting materials.

0

50

100

150

200

250

$35/Dry Tons

$25/Dry Tons

200

Farmgate Price

Biomass Availa

bilit

y, Million Tons

Forecast for 25%

Producitivity Gain

Base Forecast

No Producitivity Gain

Effect of Increased Productivity on

Economically Competitive 2008 Supplies

Figure 6. Plant science research is required to increase productivity

and reduce uncertainty of biomass crop supplies. Productivity increases could lead to more supplies of energy crops that are economically

competitive by 2008.

9
TABLE 1 Biobased Products Categories and Examples

10

Figure 7 shows some examples of locations of

manufacturing plants of biobased products using

the system of Table 1 (pulp and paper companies

are illustrated with the energy products in Figure 8).

TOMORROW

For bioased products, domestic and international

opportunities abound. These include opportunities

for increasing the production of current and new

crops; opportunities for improving the efficiency

and cost-effectiveness of technologies for converting these crops to myriad products; and opportunities for developing advanced technologies that will

lead to new products with novel properties. Before

long, for example, we could witness the emergence of new biobased commercial and industrial

chemicals, pharmaceuticals, and products whose

large capacity for sequestering carbon could benefit the environment. These developments depend on

advances in biology, plant genomics, computational

science, biotechnology, conversion, and transport;

and on an improved understanding of natural products in their environment and our increased ability to

tailor products made by green plants. 

Number Product Category Examples of Biobased Products

Established Biobased Industry

1 Paper and packaging Writing papers, newsprint, magazines, and packaging cartons

2 Wood-based composite materials Lumber, plywood, flooring, furniture, laminates, engineered wall systems, 

and structures wood/polymer and structural composites, and lignin-based polymers

Emerging Biobased Industry 

3 Plant-based plastics and polymers Polylactide plastic, starch biodegradable polymers,

and films spider silk polymers

4 Lubricants and functional fluids Biodegradable soybean oil-derived lubricants, used grease-refined 

products

5 Inks Soybean-derived inks

6 Enzymes Cellulase for orange juice clarification and stone-washed jeans, 

amylase for corn industry, enzymes for nutrition enhancement,

novel property enzymes

7 Renewable alternative fiber papers and Kenaf, milkweed, and other agriculture products used for fibers, 

packaging packaging, and products

Shared by Biobased Companies and other Manufacturing Industries

8 Absorbents, adsorbents, and Odor control, spill absorbents, animal bedding, pet litter, biocement

masonry and road materials support, roofing, insulation, road oil, and asphalt

9 Adhesives and bonding products Sealants, glues for building products, glues for envelopes,

wall paper adhesives, soy-based adhesives, marine glues

10 Biocontrol products Soil amendments, such as topsoil, aggregate, and enrichment, 

fertilizer and pesticide carriers

11 Solvents, chemical intermediates, and Methyltetrahydrofuran from levulinic acid, methanol from sythesis gas, 

cleaning agents cleaners, conditioners, and surfactants

12 Coatings and paints Paints using cellulose-derived water soluble polymers

13 Cosmetics and personal-care products Biobased products in toothpaste, lotions, and shampoos

14 Landscaping products Decorative bark, railroad ties 

15 New fibers, fillers, yarn, and insulation Cotton fibers and rayon (cellulose derivative) textiles. New insulation

using cotton processing trash and recycled textile fibers, filler for

auto fenders, and panels for vehicle liners

16 Pharmaceuticals and veterinary products Taxol for cancer treatment
There will also be opportunities for agriculture and

forestry producers and processors to increase their

income. Much of this will come about because of

advances in the science and technologies of plant

management and utilization— advances that will

provide significant increases in feedstock productivity and in new systems for producing agricultural

and woody crops. Additional income will also

result from farmers moving up the value-added

chain by establishing farmer-owned processing

and manufacturing enterprises. At the same time,

by increasing the utilization of biomass and

residues we will improve the health of our agricultural lands, and of our forests, and we will derive

other environmental benefits. 

We are starting to see some of these opportunities

emerge even today. Traditional chemical polymer

manufacturers are forming new ventures with traditional agricultural processing companies to develop and commercialize biodegradable polymers from

glucose-derived polylactide and new fibers from

microbially produced chemicals. Synergies like this

will continue to flourish, with companies that form

these ventures being able to leverage each others’

expertise and effectively explore biobased plastics

and other areas together. In addition to the large

processing plants resulting from new ventures, we

could also witness the creation of small processing

plants in rural America, which would produce new

forest- and crop-based products and provide many

new jobs.

Much of the initial and final processing of bioproducts will occur close to where the biomass feedstocks are produced. That means new economic

opportunity for the farmers who produce the feedstock and for farmer-owned cooperatives engaged

in processing biobased products.

11

Figure 7. Map of the United States with examples of locations of facilities manufacturing biobased products. About 134 manufacturing plants

are included, and a single symbol often represents multiple plants.

Includes product categories 3-7 (Table 1)

Includes product categories 8-16 (Table 1)
Bioenergy 

TODAY

Biomass resources supply the United States with

3 percent of its primary energy. From this primary

biomass input, nearly half is lost in conversion

processes. The other half is consumed in the form of

heat, electricity, and liquid or gaseous fuels. Major

bioenergy uses by sector include the following:

• Buildings. About 25 million homes use wood for

primary or supplemental heating, and wood provides 10% of total residential heating in America.

• Electricity. Biomass residues, municipal wastes,

and landfill gas are used to generate heat and

60 billion kilowatt-hours from 10 thousand

megawatts of electric power (nearly 1 percent of

the generating capacity in the United States). The

electricity derived from the biomass residues

avoided 7 million tons of carbon emissions per

year because of diversion of biomass from landfills and their resulting emissions.

• Industry. Biomass process streams and residues

provide 56 percent of the electricity and heat used

by the pulp and paper industry and 75 percent of

the electricity and heat used by the solid and engineered wood products industries and composites.

• Transportation. Ethanol (primarily derived from

cornstarch) accounts for 0.4 percent of liquid

fuels and is provided as an ethanol-gasoline

blend in 3 percent of U.S. gasoline supplies. Of

the 35 billion gallons of diesel consumed in 1998,

6 million gallons were biodiesel.

During the past two decades, federal regulatory,

tax, R&D, and other policies, together with complementary policies in many states, have significantly

increased bioenergy use. Opening the regulated

electric utility industry to external supplies of electricity through the Public Utility Regulatory Policy

Act (PURPA) enabled the development of independent suppliers of biomass-generated power.

Federal and state tax incentives helped increase

U.S. biopower generation more than three-fold during the past two decades, with most of this increase

occurring between 1984 and 1988. Policies that

supported these increases included performancebased incentives such as guaranteed prices for

energy or energy production credits. Utility deregulation continues today and offers opportunities and

challenges to the biopower industry 

Since 1980, ethanol production from cornstarch

increased by a factor of ten. This was brought

about partly by our need to reduce air pollutants in

many of our cities in response to the Clean Air Act,

and partly by reducing motor fuel excise taxes on

fuels derived from ethanol.

As a result, in the United States during the past 20

years investors installed 730 bioenergy electricgenerating facilities, 58 ethanol production plants,

and many more plants that generate heat only

(Figure 8). To put these numbers in perspective,

the U.S. biopower levels are higher than electricity

produced and used from all energy sources in individual countries, such as Portugal, Greece, the

Philippines, or Chile.

TOMORROW

There are significant opportunities to improve the

efficiency of converting primary biomass to convenient electricity, heat, and transportation fuels.

Today’s bioenergy system is a composite of technologies where individual efficiencies range from

15 percent to 60 percent. When computed as the

ratio of output to input energy, the average efficiency across all of these uses is between 40 percent and 50 percent. By incorporating advanced

technologies, such as for combining heat and electricity production, and for producing liquid fuels,

industry could raise the average efficiency of the

composite U.S. bioenergy system to between 60

percent and 80 percent. As an example, by combining heat and power applications or by using

advanced technology, we could double the efficiency of today’s stand-alone direct combustion plants. 

For bioenergy to become more competitive and

more widely used in the United States, increased

use of combined heat and power would help. But

even greater increases in efficiency are needed.

And this can be achieved only through advanced

technologies like advanced biomass gasification

coupled with advanced turbines in combined

cycles, possibly with fuel cells (which could reach

conversion efficiencies of 60 percent or higher).

We must reduce the technical and commercial risk

of these technologies so that industry will adopt

them in an expeditious manner as they replace

capital equipment and develop additional supplies. 

Some bioenergy deployment is compatible with the

current fossil energy infrastructure. Gasification of

biomass is a feasible way to combine biomass

energy with coal at very high proportions of biomass. It is also a way to couple biosynthesis gas

(processed to pipeline quality) to increase natural

gas supplies for distribution and home applications. Cofiring solid biomass residues along with

coal directly could lead to biomass efficiency

increases with relatively low capital investments. 

During the 1980s and 1990s, the residue-based

industry invested $15 billion to develop 7,000

megawatts of electric power production capacity.

This created 66,000 jobs and a net annual income

of $2 billion. By implementing advanced technologies and by coupling with the fossil fuels infrastruc12
13

ture, the biopower industry could grow by another

factor of 3 in the next 10 years. If this were to be the

case, then the industry could help create nearly

another 200,000 jobs. In fact, according to its own

technology roadmap, the biopower industry has the

goal of tripling its year 2000 output, while doubling

its use of primary biomass, by 2010. The industry

envisions penetration of their technologies in

domestic and international markets, initially coupled

with increased use of biomass residues and wastes.

In the liquid-fuel infrastructure, there is an opportunity to increase production of ethanol and help

maintain oxygenated fuels in reformulated gasoline. These oxygenates have been shown to help

improve the air quality in the regions with high air

pollution to bring them into compliance with the

requirements of the Clean Air Act and its amendments. There are, however, some evaporative

emissions and air pollutants from renewable oxygenates that need to be mitigated.

Methyl tertiary butyl ether (MTBE), the most wideIy

used gasoline additive to improve air quality, is

being phased out in California and key northeastern states because of water contamination from

leaking gasoline storage tanks. This could help

increase demand for ethanol by as much as 1.2 billion gallons per year over the current demand of

1.5 billion gallons per year (a factor of 1.8). With

Figure 8. Map of the United States with 440 examples of locations of facilities (county level)

in forest products industries that integrate heat, power, and products; biopower plants

that generate electricity only; and plants that primarily produce corn-derived ethanol; and

plants that produce biodiesel. Note, that a single symbol often represents multiple plants.

Forest Products/Paper/Heat/Power

Biopower Only

Ethanol and Products

Biodiesel
14

this added level of production, which could go even

higher, the balance of trade could be improved by

$2.5 billion cumulatively from 2004 through 2010,

while reducing the need for federal emergency

farm assistance payments.

The operation of new ethanol plants could boost

employment by 10,000, and the increase in purchases of farm equipment, combined with multiplier effects, could boost employment by another

10,000. Farm income will rise as a result of

stronger demand for crops used as feedstocks

which, combined with multiplier effects, could

boost employment due to off-farm expenditures by

an additional 25,000. Significant additional growth

will be made possible by technologies under development. The use of residues from corn processing

such as corn fiber, and from field residues, could

supply additional low-cost sugars for ethanol production, increasing the flexibility of these agricultural biorefineries.

There are also policy-driven opportunities for

increased bioenergy use. The excise tax exemption is currently scheduled to decline from the

equivalent of 54 cents per gallon of ethanol to 52

cents, and expire September 30, 2007. Policy

makers and some members of Congress have

made proposals to set, at the federal level, a specific fraction of the electricity to be provided by

renewables, of which biopower— second only to

hydropower— is a major supplier. Many states

have already enacted such renewable portfolio

standards for electricity. Similarly, proposals exist

for a renewable fuel standard. Federal legislation

still needs to be enacted in both cases.

Another way to increase development of renewable technologies that offer environmental benefits

is through systems benefit charges. California,

Montana, Illinois, Massachusetts, and Rhode

Island are implementing this option as electric

industry restructuring is impacting development of

renewables.

Finally, markets for green electricity are already

established and functioning in several jurisdictions

as a result of consumer preference for environmentally preferred electricity. 

The initiative goals and strategies that follow indicate how we can develop the technologies and

remove the barriers to these tremendous opportunities and meet the goal of tripling America's use of

biobased products and bioenergy by 2010.

Benefits to the Farmers

From a $2 bushel of corn we can make a combination of fuels, industrial products, chemicals, and feeds

with a total wholesale value of more than $8. To benefit from this “added value,” farmers increasingly are

becoming owners of manufacturing facilities. More than 150 farmer- and cooperatively-owned processing and manufacturing facilities started up in the last 10 years. In Minnesota, 11 of the 14 ethanol

refineries, which collectively produce over 90 percent of Minnesota’s ethanol needs, are owned directly

by more than 8500 Minnesota farmers.
15

Initiative Goals

Technologies

• Biobased products and 

Bioenergy technology 

roadmaps, planning 

processes and aligned 

programs

• Research enterprise 

coordination 

(government, academia, 

industry)

• Environmental 

performance assessment

• Technical assistance

Policies

• Tax Code Modifications 

(IRS)

• New Legislation

• Financing barrier 

reduction

• Integrated analysis

Markets

• Federal/National/

International

• Outreach and 

Communications

• Codes/Standards

• Incentive payments

• Implementation of related 

Executive Orders:

13031, 13101, 13123

Developing and Promoting Biobased Products and Bioenergy Executive Order: 13134 (1999)

Figure 9. Examples of actions to triple biomass use by 2010. These include research, development, and

demonstration in technology and product development. Among actions are coordinated policy modifications

to create government markets and facilitate commercial market development. Also included are the continuing implementation of related Executive Orders (13031, Federal Alternative Fueled Vehicle Leadership;

13101, Greening the Government through Waste Prevention, Recycling, and Federal Acquisition; and 13123,

Greening the Government through Efficient Energy Management).

There is a strong relationship between markets, technologies, and policies (see Figure 9).

At the apex of this relationship are markets for biobased products and bioenergy. This

strategic plan describes technology and policy goals that will provide a solid foundation

for achieving a national goal of tripling emerging biobased products and bioenergy use

by 2010.

But the goals and strategies alone cannot enable us to reach the national goal. Essential

for success are the policies to promote R&D and demonstration, and to encourage deployment and commercialization of biobased products and bioenergy. Also essential are the

Executive Order 13134 and related orders, industry vision, technology roadmaps and

strategic planning processes, and the individual programs of government agencies (see

Appendix 1) at both the federal and state levels. 
Technology 

Development Goals

GOAL 1 

Reduce by two- to ten-fold costs of technologies

for integrated supply, conversion, manufacturing

and application systems for biobased products and

bioenergy by 2010. Technologies include biomass

production, collection, transportation, and delivery,

as well as biomass conversion technologies to

develop fuels, power, heat, chemicals, and materials. 

STRATEGIES 

• Implement and strengthen coordinated federal

R&D programs and justify integrated funding

requests across federal departments and agencies. 

• Conduct competitive solicitations with the private

sector, universities, and others, for which the

agencies and government laboratories provide

structure, oversight, and technical support on key

R&D issues, and ensure that solicitations reach a

“critical R&D mass” to achieve the goal.

• Develop resource-efficient, environmentally

sound, high productivity feedstock production systems.

Examples of Milestones 

• By 2010, halve the year 2000 cost of producing sugars

from lignocellulosic biomass.

• By 2010, develop the technologies for cost-competitive

biomass gasification platforms for both power and

biorefinery co-products.

• By 2010, develop 250 new biobased products for commercialization. This number includes at least 20 highenergy use impact biobased products.

GOAL 2 

Demonstrate critical integrated biobased products

and bioenergy systems for fuels, heat, power,

chemicals and materials between 2002-2008 so

they may contribute to the tripling goal by 2010. 

STRATEGIES 

• Identify the scientific and technological resources

that will be needed and fully utilize relevant existing facilities (federal, state, academia, and private).

• Craft public-private sector partnerships to

demonstrate technologies.

• Leverage private investments to demonstrate

promising technologies.

Examples of Milestones 

• By 2002, complete an inventory of public resources

and facilities. 

• By 2002, demonstrate an integrated, commercial-scale

facility for multiple products. One example is to use lignocellulosic biomass to produce sugars, ethanol, and

power. 

• By 2008, demonstrate integrated gasification technologies for producing power and multiple products, including hydrogen. Implement gasification technology in

three plants of the pulp and paper industry by 2010. 

• Between 2002-2008, demonstrate rural-based processing plants for biobased products, including plants

owned by farmers or farm cooperatives. Examples

include composites, building materials, plastics from

crop residues, and small-scale production of power

using integrated gasification technology with advanced

power sources.

GOAL 3

Monitor and evaluate the environmental and

ecosystem impacts of biobased products and

bioenergy systems at all stages of development

and apply this information toward improving these

systems’ safety and environmental benefits.

STRATEGIES

• Identify and foster R&D on biobased products

and bioenergy areas that have substantial potential to replace fossil-based fuels, power, heat,

chemicals, and materials (including inorganic

products replacement) with substantial potential to

provide environmental benefits.

• Establish specific review committees with broad

public representation and open processes to

oversee environmental monitoring and evaluation, in-field biomass production, and facility conversion processes.

• Conduct ongoing life-cycle analyses to evaluate

integrated systems and determine areas for environmental improvement.

• Utilize advanced information technologies to collaboratively assemble, analyze, and publicly disseminate information on relevant environmental

and ecosystem impacts.

Examples of Milestones 

• By 2002, review environmental and ecosystem monitoring by the federal, state, and local governments agricultural, forestry, and environmental agencies and private sector and non-governmental organizations.

• By 2002, develop tools and information resources that

will facilitate identification of those biobased products

16
17

and bioenergy technologies that can provide economic, agricultural, energy, and environmental benefits

simultaneously and produce a plan to accelerate their

development. This will help farmers identify more profitable crops and assist them in developing farm cooperatives to supply biobased products and bioenergy to

new markets.

• On an ongoing basis, identify and implement opportunities to leverage these monitoring efforts and expertise,

supplementing them as needed, to support life-cycle

environmental and ecosystem monitoring of biobased

product and bioenergy systems. 

• By 2002, establish a national program initiative to promote understanding of the role of bioproducts and

bioenergy in enhancing environmental sustainability in

USDA’s Cooperative Extension Service, in state cooperative extension service programs, and in USDA’s NRCS.

• By 2003, evaluate current and prospective life-cycle

environmental costs and benefits of key biobased products and bioenergy important to achieve the tripling goal

and compare them with fossil-fuel based alternatives. 

GOAL 4

Foster innovation-driven science of biomass feedstocks, biobased products, and bioenergy and

quickly incorporate these scientific results in the

relevant technology development activities. 

STRATEGIES 

• Strengthen and integrate basic scientific

research programs and complementary competitive grant programs across federal agencies and

their laboratories, academic institutions, and private-sector firms. 

• Enhance human resource development to support scientific R&D programs. 

• Strengthen partnerships between the public and

private sectors.

• Evaluate biannually the federal, state, and private

sector biobased products and bioenergy R&D

portfolio to identify gaps in frontier science and

technology. 

• Identify opportunities for technology transfer from

other functional genomics and metabolic engineering R&D, such as on human systems. 

• Identify R&D issues that would greatly benefit

from dedicated Center of Excellence attention

and, where appropriate, extend existing or develop

new programs that address key challenge areas.

• Reserve a portion of the R&D funding for highrisk frontier science opportunities to nurture

innovation.

• Support research fellowship programs at universities and national laboratories in key science

areas that benefit biomass feedstocks, biobased

products, and bioenergy.

Examples of Milestones 

• By 2010, develop complete functional genomics for five

target feedstocks. Use these capabilities, for instance,

to double overall lignocellulosic productivity at significantly reduced inputs.

• By 2005, develop complete functional genomics for 10

target biocatalysts and develop associated metabolic

engineering by 2010 to triple reaction rates and significantly reduce end-product inhibition.

• On an ongoing basis, create advanced tools for information and computing technologies including those that

encourage collaborative learning and intelligence. Use

them to develop functional genomics and metabolic

engineering science and technology, and to provide

specific information on targeted plants and organisms. 

Market and Public 

Policy Goals

GOAL 5

Coordinate policies to achieve early market adoption of biobased products and bioenergy and create demand for biobased products and bioenergy. 

STRATEGIES 

• Identify in detail the principal barriers to the

research, development, demonstration, and

deployment of biobased products and of bioenergy and systematically develop coordinated policy

mechanisms to overcome them. This may include

tax incentives, environmental offsets, risk mitigation mechanisms in early deployment, buy-down

mechanisms, and others. 

• Identify existing federal and state authorities that

can be used to facilitate early adoption of

biobased technologies and products.

• Link environmental benefits of biobased products

and bioenergy to public policy development.

• Resolve infrastructure, performance, environmental, and health testing issues that present a

barrier to the market adoption of biobased products and bioenergy.

• Encourage early development and adoption of

standards and labels for biobased products and

bioenergy. Work with the private sector and nongovernmental organizations to identify the appropriate role of government in this effort.
Examples of Milestones

• By 2002, develop a coordinated proposal for modifying

the tax code and other policies to encourage privatesector investments in integrated biobased products and

bioenergy development and deployment and to overcome the barriers limiting development of this sector. 

• By 2002, develop mechanisms to assist the buy-down

of initial capital costs of new technologies, and mitigate

risks in deploying first-of-a-kind technologies.

• By 2002, develop mechanisms to assist farmers and

farmer cooperatives to gain economic benefits from

biobased products and bioenergy.

• By 2003, announce labeling programs to facilitate marketing of products and technologies. These programs

will be defined with the private sector.

• By 2005, have federal incentives such as tax credits

and appropriate tax-credit programs in place and funded. Have appropriate parallel incentive mechanisms for

public power companies. 

• By 2005, complete performance testing on those

biobased products and bioenergy of primary importance to achieving the tripling goal.

GOAL 6

Increase federal government purchases or production of bioenergy to 5 percent and relevant

biobased products purchases to 10 percent by 2010.

STRATEGIES

• Inform consumers and government employees

about the benefits of biobased products and

bioenergy so they will support the effort.

• Leverage and coordinate with existing “green”

purchasing programs, such as EPA’s

Comprehensive Procurement Guideline program

and EPA’s Environmentally Preferable

Purchasing Program, to ensure that consistent

messages about preferential buying requirements are communicated to federal purchasers.

• Facilitate enactment of federal and state legislation to assist purchases of biobased products

and bioenergy. 

• Use targeted demonstration programs to collect data over time and quantify benefits and

costs of biobased products and bioenergy use

in federal facilities. 

Examples of Milestones 

• By 2002, publish an USDA-approved biobased products list for federal procurement.

• By 2002, develop legislative language and facilitate

enactment of legislation to modify Section 6002 of the

Resource Conservation and Recovery Act to require

federal procurement officials to purchase certain levels

of biobased products and bioenergy. 

• In 2010, bioenergy accounts for 5 percent of federal

energy facilities and biobased products penetrate 10

percent of federal purchases of relevant products. 

• By 2010, work with all states to enact legislation that

increases state purchases of biobased products and

bioenergy.

GOAL 7 

Facilitate tripling the use of emerging biobased

products and bioenergy by 2010 in a manner consistent with federal resource conservation and

environmental policies.

STRATEGIES 

• Collaborate with the appropriate federal, state,

and local agencies to facilitate private-sector

investment in key areas of biobased products and

bioenergy for widespread implementation of technologies. For instance, DOE and EPA together

can accelerate the commercial implementation

of cofiring and demonstration activities such as

gasification of biomass and black liquor.

• Develop science-based education and outreach

programs and materials, directed toward classroom teaching and consumer education to explain

the environmental sustainability and product performance of biobased products and bioenergy.

Examples of Milestones 

• By 2002, work with educators to develop K-12 classroom materials that focus on the science-based environmental sustainability attributes of biobased products

and bioenergy.

• By 2002, establish 25 centers of excellence at colleges

and universities to develop college-level classroom

materials and outreach education materials focused on

the role of biobased products and bioenergy in enhancing environmental sustainability.

• By 2005, implement cofiring in 5 percent of pulverized

coal boilers. Joint DOE and EPA action with public and

private electricity generators will achieve this milestone. 

• By 2010, triple biofuels production through cooperative

USDA, DOE, and EPA actions with industry.

18
19

Strategies Common to 

All Goals:

• Use public-private partnerships to leverage taxpayer dollars to the maximum extent feasible

while ensuring that the results of the work are

quickly and effectively moved toward commercial

products of value to the public. Efforts will be

made to leverage international R&D when appropriate and to encourage international export of

U.S. biobased products and bioenergy.

• Utilize strategic planning processes with stakeholders such as DOE-facilitated Vision and

Technology Roadmaps to help guide the selection of areas for federal investment and bring in

diverse stakeholders to jointly develop biobased

products and bioenergy.

• Ensure relevance of targeted federal investments—

the Biomass Research and Development

Technical Advisory Committee, established by

section 306 of P.L.106-224, will coordinate programs within and among departments and agencies to maximize the benefits derived from federal grants and assistance and by bringing coherence to federal strategic planning.

• Use external peer review to oversee initiative

activities and provide independent validation or

correction of the work plans and results. 

• Establish appropriate criteria for terminating unsuccessful projects; develop sunset criteria for the

phaseout of conventional and biobased product

and bioenergy incentives, taking into account direct

and indirect supports of competing technologies.

• Employ competition wherever possible and

appropriate, such as through competitive solicitations, to ensure effective execution of work. This

includes using market-driven approaches for

technology-cost buy-down and other public-private activities.

• Pursue multiple benefits wherever possible.

These include simultaneously increasing farm

and forest income, rural employment, and environmental quality, while reducing oil imports. It

also includes identifying ways to capture multiple

benefits from public investments.

• Take advantage of technology and information

transfer mechanisms set up by the agencies and

increase their coordination. The coordination of

the member and participating agencies by the

Biomass Research and Development Board will

accelerate the dissemination of information

across agencies and to stakeholders. 

• Develop education initiatives to broadly inform

consumers and the general public of the sciencebased environmental sustainability and productperformance benefits associated with the

increased use of biobased products and bioenergy

systems.

• Establish a mechanism for measuring progress

via appropriate metrics tailored for each area,

power, fuels, and products. Update measures

periodically (for instance, through the Energy

Information Administration, other USDA or DOC

tracking of specific biobased products and bioenergy industry activities).
20

TABLE 2 Agencies Participating, in the Implementation of the National Goals

Acronyms

DOE U.S. Department of Energy

USDA U.S. Department of Agriculture

EPA Environmental Protection Agency

NSF National Science Foundation

DOC Department of Commerce

NIST National Institute of Standards

and Technologies

DOI Department of Interior

TREASURY Department of the Treasury

OSTP Office of Science and 

Technology Policy

FEE Federal Environmental Executive

GSA General Services Administration

TVA Tennessee Valley Authority

Executive Orders

13031 Federal Alternative Fueled 

Vehicle Leadership

13101 Greening the Government through 

Waste Prevention, Recycling and 

Federal Acquisition

13123 Greening the Government through 

Energy Efficiency Management

Examples of Actions to Reach the National Goal

To assess and enable the country to accrue all the benefits from the increased use of biobased products

and bioenergy, combined actions by several agencies are necessary. Table 2 shows the agencies

involved in these actions.

Goals and Actions

Technology Development Goals

1. Technology Cost Reduction XXX X X X

2. Critical Technology Demonstration XX X XX

3. Environmental/Ecosystem Impact XXX XX XX X

4. Innovative Science & Technology XXXXX X X

Public Policy and Markets Goals

5. Coordinated Policies XXX XXX X

6. Increase Federal Market Pull X XX X XX X XX

7. Increase Commercial Market Pull XXX X XXX X

Examples of Actions

Tax Code Modifications XXX XXX

New Legislation XXX XX

Financing Barrier Reduction XXX X XXX X

Federal Markets XXX X XXX

National/International Markets XXX X XX

Outreach and Communications XXX X XX X

Codes/Standards XXX X

Incentive Payments XX XX X

Related Executive Orders: 13101 XX X

Related Executive Orders: 13031, 13123 XX X DOE USDA EPA NSF DOC/NIST DOI TREASURY OSTP FEE

GSATVA
21

Appendix I. Federal Government Programs

Relevant to Biobased Products and

Bioenergy and their Web Sites

U.S. Department of Energy http://www.doe.gov/

Energy Supply Research and Development 

Renewable Energy

Biomass Power Systems http://www.eren.doe.gov/biopower/flash.html

Biofuels Energy Systems http://www.ott.doe.gov/biofuels/

Hydrogen Energy Research and Development http://www.eren.doe.gov/power/hydrogen.html

Science http://www.science.doe.gov

Basic Energy Sciences http://www.sc.doe.gov/production/bes/bes.html

Energy Biosciences http://www.sc.doe.gov/production/bes/Division.htm#biosciences

Chemical Sciences http://www.sc.doe.gov/production/bes/Division.htm#chemical

Engineering and Geosciences http://www.sc.doe.gov/production/bes/Division.htm#EngGeo

Biological and Environmental Research http://www.sc.doe.gov/production/ober/ober_top.html

Energy Conservation http://www.eren.doe.gov/

Industry Sector http://www.eren.doe.gov/EE/industrial.html

Industries of the Future – specific

Forest Products http://www.oit.doe.gov/forest/

Agriculture http://www.oit.doe.gov/agriculture/

Industries of the Future – crosscutting

Transportation http://www.eren.doe.gov/EE/transportation.html

Fuels Utilization R&D http://www.ott.doe.gov/otu/afutil.html

Fossil Energy Research and Development http://www.fe.doe.gov/

Coal and Power Systems http://www.fe.doe.gov/programs_coalpwr.html

Central Systems http://www.fe.doe.gov/coal_power/central_power.html

Gasification Cycles http://www.fe.doe.gov/coal_power/gasification/index.html

Turbines http://www.fe.doe.gov/coal_power/turbines/index_industrial.html

Distributed Systems http://www.fe.doe.gov/coal_power/distributed_power.html

Fuel Cells http://www.fe.doe.gov/coal_power/fuelcells/index.html

Natural Gas http://www.netl.doe.gov/scng/

Departments, Agencies, Offices, Programs Web Site
22

Departments, Agencies, Offices, Programs Web Site

U.S. Department of Agriculture http://usda.gov

Agriculture Research Service http://www.ars.usda.gov/

Research in Integration of Agricultural 

Systems and Research Support http://www.nps.ars.usda.gov/

Natural Resources and Sustainable Agricultural Systems http://www.nps.ars.usda.gov/

Rangeland, Pasture, and Forages http://www.nps.ars.usda.gov/programs/programs.htm?NPNUMBER=205

Manure and Byproduct Utilization http://www.nps.ars.usda.gov/programs/programs.htm?NPNUMBER=206

Integrated Agricultural Systems http://www.nps.ars.usda.gov/programs/programs.htm?NPNUMBER=207

Crop Production, Product Value, and Safety http://www.nps.ars.usda.gov/

Plant, Microbial, and Insect Genetic Resources, 

Genomics, and Genetic Improvement http://www.nps.ars.usda.gov/programs/programs.htm?NPNUMBER=301

Plant Biological and Molecular Processes http://www.nps.ars.usda.gov/programs/programs.htm?NPNUMBER=302

New Uses, Quality, and Marketability of Plant 

and Animal Products http://www.nps.ars.usda.gov/programs/programs.htm?NPNUMBER=306

Bioenergy and Energy Alternatives http://www.nps.ars.usda.gov/programs/programs.htm?NPNUMBER=307

Federal Technology Transfer to the Private Sector http://www.ott.ars.usda.gov/

Cooperative State Research, Education

and Extension Service http://www.reeusda.gov/

Agricultural Materials http://www.reeusda.gov/1700/programs/agri.htm 

National Research Initiative http://www.reeusda.gov/ree/nri/

Small Business Innovative Research http://www.reeusda.gov/sbir/

McIntire-Stennis Cooperative Forestry http://www.reeusda.gov/1700/legis/mcstenni.htm

Payments under the Hatch Act http://www.reeusda.gov/crgam/oep/fmbstaff.htm

http://www.reeusda.gov/1700/legis/hatch.htm

Payments to 1890 Colleges and Tuskegee http://www.reeusda.gov/1700/programs/1890.htm

Special Research Grants http://www.reeusda.gov/ree/reedir/dgz00662.htm

Initiative for Future Agriculture and Food Systems http://www.reeusda.gov/1700/programs/IFAFS/IFAFS.htm

Forest Service http://www.fs.fed.us/research

Forest and Rangeland Research http://www.fs.fed.us/research/rvur/

Vegetation Management and Protection Research http://www.fs.fed.us/research/vmpr

Forest Products http://www.fs.fed.us/research/rvur/products/index.htm

Natural Resources Conservation Service http://www.nrcs.usda.gov/

Financial and Technical Assistance for Conservation http://www.nrcs.usda.gov/NRCSProg.html

Economic Research Service http://www.ers.usda.gov/

Animal and Plant Health Inspection Service http://www.aphis.usda.gov

Rural Development – grants and loans http://www.rurdev.usda.gov/

Office of Energy Policy and New Uses http://www.usda.gov/agency/oce/oepnu/index.htm

Commodity Credit Corporation – market development http://www.fsa.usda.gov/daco/bioenergy/bioenergy.htm
23

National Science Foundation http://www.nsf.gov/

Biological Sciences http://www.nsf.gov/home/bio/

Biological Infrastructure http://www.nsf.gov/bio/dbi/

Environmental Biology http://www.nsf.gov/bio/deb/

Integrative Biology and Neuroscience http://www.nsf.gov/bio/ibn/

Molecular and Cellular Biosciences http://www.nsf.gov/bio/mcb/

Engineering http://www.nsf.gov/home/eng/

Bioengineering and Environmental Systems http://www.eng.nsf.gov/bes/

Chemical and Transport Systems http://www.eng.nsf.gov/cts/

Design, Manufacture, and Industrial Innovation http://www.eng.nsf.gov/dmii/

Mathematical and Physical Sciences http://www.nsf.gov/home/mps/

Chemistry http://www.nsf.gov/mps/chem/

Materials Research http://www.nsf.gov/mps/dmr/

Mathematical Sciences http://www.nsf.gov/mps/dms/

Environmental Protection Agency http://www.epa.gov

Industry Partnerships, Project XL http://www.epa.gov/ProjectXL/

Methane Energy http://www.epa.gov/methane/

Landfill Methane Outreach http://www.epa.gov/lmop/

AgStar Partnership (joint with USDA and DOE) http://www.epa.gov/outreach/agstar/

Office of Research and Development http://www.epa.gov/ORD/

Environmental Technology Verification http://www.epa.gov/etv/

Office of Pollution Prevention and Toxics http://www.epa.gov/internet/oppts/

Green Chemistry http://www.epa.gov/opptintr/greenchemistry/program.htm

Genetically Modified Microorganisms http:/www.epa.gov/opptintr/biotech

Plant Pesticides http://www.epa.gov/pesticides/biopesticides

Extramural Research and Development http://www.epa.gov/AthensR/extrmural/index.html

Comprehensive Procurement Guidelines http://www.epa.gov/cpg

Department of Commerce http://www.doc.gov

Advanced Technology http://www.atp.nist.gov/

Tennessee Valley Authority http://www.tva.gov/

Renewables and Biomass

Public Power Institute http://www.publicpowerinstitute.org

Departments, Agencies, Offices, Programs Web Site
24

Appendix II. Agencies and their Missions

Mission Agency

Department of Agriculture

“A healthy and productive Nation 

in harmony with the land”

The Department of Energy

Science, Security and Energy: Powering

the 21st Century

The National 

Science Foundation

Enabling the Nation’s future through 

discovery, learning and innovation

United States Environmental

Protection Agency

“...to protect human health and to 

safeguard the natural environment...”

Department of the Interior

To protect and provide access to our

Nation's natural and cultural heritage

and honor our trust responsibilities 

to tribes

Supporting production agriculture; ensuring a

safe, affordable, nutritious, and accessible

food supply; caring for agricultural, forest, and

rangelands; supporting sound development

of rural communities; providing economic

opportunities for farm and rural residents;

expanding global markets for agricultural

and forest products and services.

Working to assure clean, affordable, and

dependable supplies of energy for our

nation, now and in the future.

Realizing the promise of the 21st century

depends in large measure on today’s investments in science, engineering and mathematics research and education. NSF investments are in people, their ideas and the

tools they use. NSF catalyzes the strong

progress in science and engineering needed

to secure the Nation’s future.

Protecting public health and safeguarding

the natural environment—air, water, and

land—upon which life depends.

Cooperating with partners to extend the benefits of natural and cultural resource conservation and outdoor recreation throughout

this country and the world.
25

Agency Mission

Office of Science and

Technology Policy

Department of Commerce

National Institute of 

Standards & Technology

Environmental Executive

Task Force on Greening the

Government through Waste Prevention

and Recycling

The Office of 

Management and Budget

The Department 

of the Treasury 

Tennessee Valley Authority

The Power of the Public Good

Serve as a source of scientific and 

technological analysis and judgment for the

President with respect to major policies, plans,

and programs of the Federal Government.

Serving the needs of all Americans, creating

job opportunities for American workers, and

enhancing the competitiveness of United

States industry in the global marketplace.

Expanding and strengthening the Federal

government's commitment to recycling and

buying recycled content and environmentally

preferable products.

Building on the success of fiscal discipline,

improving performance through better management, strengthening the nation in the 21st

century, and building prosperity for the future

Maximizing the potential of the U.S. and

world economies for growth and stability.

TVA is a unique federal corporation that is the

nation’s largest public producer of electricity,

the steward of the Tennessee River system,

and a regional economic development agency.
26

absorbent: a material that, because of surface retention,

accumulates layers of molecules or atoms of another

material (usually a gas or liquid) with which it is in contact.

For example, because of its large surface area, charcoal

can serve as an absorbent for large volumes of gas.

acetic acid: (CH3COOH) - an inexpensive organic acid

that is a component of vinegar and that is an important

starting substance for making textile fibers, vinyl plastics,

polyesters, and other chemicals.

acids: a class of chemical compounds capable of transferring hydrogen ions in solution, that turn blue litmus

paper to red, that react with certain metals to form salts,

and that react with bases to form salts. Acids have a

wide range of industrial uses and are essential to life

itself.

alcohols: any of a class of chemical compounds (such

as methanol, ethanol, propanol) that contains the

hydroxyl group, OH. Alcohols can be used for a variety

of applications that range from fuel, to beverage, to

industrial solvent, to a chemical intermediate used for

manufacturing a wide variety of chemicals and materials. 

amylase: an enzyme that hydrolyzes (decomposes with

water) reserve carbohydrates, starch in plants, and

glycogen in animals.

aromatic compounds: a large group of organic chemicals

that usually contain closed rings of carbon atoms. About

half of all known organic compounds are aromatic. 

biobased products: commercial or industrial products,

other than food and feed, derived from biomass feedstocks. Biobased products include green chemicals,

renewable plastics, natural fibers, and natural structural

materials. Many of these products possess unique properties unmatched by petroleum-based products or can

replace products and materials traditionally derived from

petrochemicals. However, new and improved processing

technologies will be required.

biobased technologies: those technologies that use

biomass feedstocks as the raw material for making

products or for producing energy.

biocatalyst: usually refers to enzymes and microbes,

but it can include other catalysts that are living or that were

extracted from living organisms, such as plant or animal

tissue cultures, algae, fungi, or other whole organisms.

biodegradable: the attribute of a substance that can be

broken down into simpler compounds by microorganisms.

biodiesel: a biofuel produced through a process in

which organically derived oils are combined with alcohol

(ethanol or methanol) in the presence of a catalyst to

form ethyl or methyl ester. The biomass-derived ethyl or

methyl esters can be blended with conventional diesel

fuel or used as a neat fuel (100% biodiesel). Biodiesel

can be made from soybean or rapeseed oils, animal fats,

waste vegetable oils, or microalgae oils.

bioeconomic: an economy based on biological sciences and advances in related engineering disciplines

and physical sciences.

bioenergy: the energy contained in material produced

by photosynthesis (including organic waste) may be

used directly or indirectly to manufacture fuels and substitutes for petrochemicals and other energy-intensive

products. The production of energy from biomass, for

example, can be direct (e.g., via combustion) or indirect

(e.g., via conversion into ethanol or through gasification).

biofuels: fuels made from biomass resources, including

the liquid fuels ethanol, methanol, biodiesel, FischerTropsch diesel, and gaseous fuels such as hydrogen

and methane. Conversion of biomass to fuels generally

involves conversion to an intermediate (sugar or syngas)

and then to a fuel by a catalyst.

biomass: organic matter available on a renewable

basis. Biomass includes forest and mill residues, agricultural crops and residues, wood and wood residues,

animal wastes, livestock operation residues, aquatic

plants, fast-growing trees and plants, and the organic

portion of municipal and relevant industrial wastes.

biomass gasification: biomass is heated without

excess of air so that instead of completely being combusted, an intermediate gas is formed. This gas has

hydrogen and carbon monoxide, in addition to carbon

dioxide and water, and small amounts of other products.

The resulting gas can then be burned to produce power

or processed into chemicals and fuels. 

biomass hydrolysis: the use of an aqueous solution

(often acidic) to decompose biomass into simpler chemical units. Alternatively, enzymes can be used. Complete

hydrolysis breaks biomass into its simplest units

(monomers), which can serve as repeated building

blocks for making polymers, alcohols, acids, fuels, plastics, and other products.

biomass residues: all forms of biomass yield byproducts and waste streams that have significant potential for

energy or further processing. For example, making solid

wood products and pulp from logs produces bark, shavings and sawdust, and spent pulping liquors. Since these

residues are already collected at the point of processing,

they can be convenient and relatively inexpensive

sources of biomass for energy or processing into other

products. Construction and demolition wood is another

example of residues used to make electricity.

biomass resource: any plant-derived organic matter

that is available for food, feed, fiber, energy, or biobased

products on a sustainable basis. Includes agricultural

food and feed crops, agricultural crop wastes and

residues, wood wastes and residues, herbaceous and

woody energy crops, aquatic plants, animal wastes,

some municipal wastes, and other waste materials.

biopower: the use of biomass feedstock to produce

electric power, through direct combustion of the feedstock, through gasification and then combustion of the

resultant gas, or through other thermal conversion

processes. Power is generated with engines, turbines,

fuel cells, or other equipment.

Appendix III. Glossary of Terms
27

biosynthesis gas: a gas, created by gasification of

organic material, comprised primarily of hydrogen and

carbon monoxide. This gas can be combusted for energy or used to make alcohols, acids, fuels, plastics, and

other products. 

carbohydrate: any group of organic compounds composed of carbon, hydrogen, and oxygen, including sugars, starches, and celluloses.

carbon - C: the sixth lightest element of the periodic

table. Carbon is the basic element that defines organic

material and is essential to all life. Carbon compounds

constitute greater than 90 percent of the millions of compounds known to exist.

carbon-based industries: industries whose products

are derived primarily from biomass or fossil feedstock.

This comprises a wide range of industries, including

forestry and agriculture, which are sources of renewable

carbon and; petroleum, coal, and natural gas, which are

sources of fossil carbon.

carbon dioxide: a colorless, odorless noncombustible

gas with the formula CO2 that is present in the atmosphere. It is formed by the combustion of carbon and carbon compounds or by respiration, which is a slow combustion in animals and plants. It is also generated by the

gradual oxidation of organic matter in the soil. 

carbon sequestering: the physical, chemical, or biological storage of carbon so that it does not reach the

atmosphere for centuries or longer. Methods of sequestering include physical storage of carbon dioxide in

depleted oil or gas reservoirs and biological storage by

forests and biomass plantations.

catalyst: a chemical substance that increases the rate

of chemical reaction without being consumed.

Biological substances carrying catalytic functions are

known as biocatalysts.

catalytic cracking: the use of catalysts and heat to

break hydrocarbons into shorter chains of hydrocarbons.

Used in the petroleum industry to derive a variety of useful products from crude oil.

cellulase: any of a group of extracellular enzymes that

hydrolyze (decompose with water) cellulose. 

cellulose: The main carbohydrate in living plants.

Cellulose forms the skeletal structure of the plant cell wall.

cofiring: the use of two or more different fuels (e.g.

wood residue and coal) simultaneously in the same combustion chamber of a power plant. 

depolymerization: the decomposition of macromolecular compounds into relatively simple compounds.

enzymatic hydrolysis: a process by which enzymes

(biological catalysts) are used to break down polymers

into their components.

enzyme: a protein functioning as a biological catalyst.

Enzymes accelerate (often by several orders of magnitude) chemical reactions that would proceed imperceptibly or not at all in their absence. 

ethanol - C2H5OH: a colorless liquid that is the product

of fermentation used in alcoholic beverages, industrial

processes, and as a fuel additive. Also known as grain

alcohol. 

ethanol-gasoline blend: a blend of unleaded gasoline

with ethanol (usually in a ratio of 9 to 1). Used as a motor

vehicle fuel to reduce emissions of carbon monoxide,

especially in areas that are out of compliance with

requirements of the Clean Air Act and its amendments. 

ethylene - C2H4: the simplest of the alkenes, a class of

compounds that have one or more carbon-carbon double bonds. Ethylene, which is also a natural product of

plant respiration and contributes to ripening of fruit, is

one of the most important raw materials used in the

organic chemical industry. It is used for making polyethylene, antifreeze, ethyl alcohol (ethanol), and other

chemicals. 

fermentation: the decomposition of organic material to

alcohol, methane, etc., by organisms, such as yeast or

bacteria, usually in the absence of oxygen. 

Fischer-Tropsch process: a process whereby synthesis gas (primarily hydrogen and carbon monoxide) are

reacted in the presence of an iron or cobalt catalyst to

produce such products as methane, synthetic gasoline,

waxes, and alcohols. When used with biomass feedstock, synthetic gasoline derived with the FischerTropsch process is sulfur free.. 

fossil fuels: solid, liquid, or gaseous fuels formed in the

ground after millions of years by chemical and physical

changes in plant and animal residues under high temperature and pressure. Oil, natural gas, and coal are fossil fuels.

fuel cell: an electrochemical device that converts the

chemical energy of a fuel directly to electricity and heat,

without combustion.

genomics: the study of genes and their functions.

glucose - C6H12O6: a monosaccharide sugar found in

honey and fruits. It is formed by the hydrolysis of more

complex carbohydrates, including sucrose, maltose, cellulose, and starch. It is used as a sweetener, in tanning,

in making ethanol, and in medicines.

glycols: a family of colorless alcohols used for making a

variety of products, including antifreeze, brake fluids,

explosives, and solvents. Some glycols such as glycerin

are useful for food and medicinal applications.

greenhouse gases: gases that are transparent to solar

radiation but that reflect infrared radiation (long-wave

radiation produced by the solar-heated Earth) to trap

heat in the Earth's atmosphere. Greenhouse gases

include water vapor, carbon dioxide, methane, ozone,

chlorofluorocarbons, and nitrous oxide.

hydrolysis: decomposition of a chemical compound by

reaction with water.

inorganic: compounds that do not contain carbon as the

principal element, excepting carbonates, cyanides, and

cyanates. Matter other than plant or animal.
lactic acid - CH3CHOHCOOH: a colorless acid that is

prepared by the fermentation of starch, cane sugar, or

whey, or of lactose in milk. Used in preparing cheese,

sauerkraut, soft drinks, and other food products. Lactic

acid is also a starting compound for polymers.

lignin: an amorphous phenolic polymer related to cellulose that together with cellulose forms the cell walls of

woody plants and acts as the bonding agent between

cells. Trees, for example, which have to stand tall,

require strong cell walls and therefore have a high lignin

content. Lignin, which is a byproduct of converting the

cellulosic portion of biomass to products such as cellulose or ethanol, can go through depolymerization to

form aromatic compounds. These aromatic compounds

as well as ethanol can serve as valuable octane or

octane enhancers in gasoline.

lignocellulosic biomass: plants (such as trees) whose

primary constituents are compounds of lignin, cellulose,

and hemicelluloses, which comprise the essential part of

woody cell walls.

metabolic engineering: an emerging research field that

combines complex biochemical networks with biochemistry, enzymology, and molecular biology to identify and

alter processes within a cell, especially those that limit

the productivity of the basic amino acid lysine. 

methanol - CH3OH: the simplest of all alcohols. It is

used for the production of formaldehyde (used in plastics, germicides, and fungicides); for the production of

other chemicals; and for jet fuels, antifreeze, solvents, as

a gasoline additive, and as a denaturant. 

methyl tertiary butyl ether - MTBE: an ether compound used as a blending component to raise the

oxygen content of gasoline. MTBE—a volatile, flammable and colorless liquid that dissolves rather easily

in water—is manufactured by the chemical reaction of

methanol and isobutylene.

monosaccharide: a carbohydrate that cannot be

hydrolyzed to a simpler carbohydrate.

natural fibers: biomass fibers that are used to make

paper products, some textile products, such as from cotton, and many types of rope, twine, and string. New

products are being developed based on natural fibers

including insulation, structural materials, reinforcing

fibers for plastics or other composite materials, and geotextiles for soil erosion-control applications. These fibers

are also being used to replace nonrenewable materials

as fillers for many products.

natural gas: a hydrocarbon gas obtained from underground sources, often in association with petroleum and

coal deposits. It generally contains a high percentage of

methane, varying amounts of ethane, and inert gases.

Natural gas is used as a heating fuel, for generating

electricity, and for making a wide range of chemicals and

fuels through Fischer-Tropsch and other processes.

octane number: a numerical rating (from 0 to 100) of

the tendency of a fuel to knock when used in an internal

combustion engine under standard conditions. The higher the number, the better the antiknock characteristics of

the fuel.

oil refinery: an installation where crude oil is cracked

and various fractions of oil (which have different weights,

boiling points, and condensation points) are separated

by distillation and treated to provide many different petroleum products.

organic: chemical compounds based on carbon chains

or rings and also containing hydrogen.

oxygenate: a gasoline fuel additive such as ethanol or

MTBE that adds extra oxygen to gasoline to reduce carbon monoxide pollution produced by vehicles. 

pharmaceuticals: drugs and medicinal products.

photosynthesis: process in which green plants utilize

the energy of sunlight to manufacture plant material from

carbon dioxide and water in the presence of chlorophyll.

polylactide: a biodegradable thermoplastic derived from

lactic acid and that resembles clear polystyrene. It can

be processed into fibers and films, thermoformed or

injection molded, or used for compost bags, plant pots,

diapers, and packaging.

polyethylene: a widely used plastic. It is a polymer of

ethylene that is produced at high pressures and temperatures in the presence of any one of several catalysts,

depending on the desired properties for the finished

product. 

polymer: substance consisting of large molecules that

are made of many small, repeating units called

monomers. Most of the organic substances found in living matter, such as protein and wood, are made of polymers. Many synthetic materials, such as plastics, are

also polymers. 

polymerization: the process of forming long chains of

molecules from simpler molecules.

polysaccharide: a carbohydrate composed of one or

many monosaccharides.

primary energy: all energy consumed by end users,

excluding electricity but including the energy consumed

to generate electricity. This definition becomes important

when describing end-use energy consumption. Primary

energy consumption is the sum of all primary energy

(e.g., coal, petroleum, natural gas, nuclear, hydro, geothermal, solar, wood, wind, etc.) consumed including primary energy consumed to generate electricity. End-use

energy consumption is the sum of all primary energy

consumed by the end-use sectors (i.e., residential, commercial, industrial, and transportation) plus the electricity consumed by the end-use sectors but excluding the

primary energy consumed to generate electricity.

28
29

PURPA : Public Utility Regulatory Policy Act. A 1978 law

that was, in part, the start of deregulation of the electric

power industry. The law requires electric utilities to purchase electricity produced from qualifying power producers that use renewable energy resources or are cogenerators. Utilities were required to purchase power at a

rate equal to the avoided cost of generating the power

themselves.

reformulated gasoline: gasoline, the properties and

composition of which have been formulated to meet the

emission requirements of the U.S. Environmental

Protection Agency under Section 211 (k) of the Clean

Air Act.

renewable (energy) resource : a resource replenished

continuously or that is replaced after use through

natural means. 

residual crude oil: the heaviest fraction of crude oil

remaining after distillation of crude oil to remove low-boiling products, straight-run gasoline, and distillate fuels. It

is generally the tower bottoms from vacuum distillation.

roadmap: a plan that details the activities and schedule

necessary to manage risks, meet opportunities, and identify capabilities required to complete a complex project.

sorbitol - C6H14O6: an alcohol that occurs naturally and

is also produced by the reduction of glucose in aqueous

solution. It is used as a plasticizer in certain adhesives,

as a softening agent in textiles, paper, and leather, and

as a low-calorie sweetener in a variety of food products.

starch: white, odorless, tasteless carbohydrate powder

that plays a vital role in the biochemistry of both plants

and animals, which convert starch to glucose for energy.

Commercially, starch is made from corn or potatoes. It is

used to make corn syrup and corn sugar, to sweeten

foods, and in the paper and textile industries. 

stakeholder: any person or group that derives benefit

from or incurs cost in an organization.

steam reforming: a thermal process that uses steam to

convert hydrocarbons (primarily in the form of natural gas

or coal) into synthesis gas (a mixture primarily of carbon

monoxide and hydrogen), typically in the presence of a

catalyst. Byproducts of this process are water vapor, carbon dioxide, and a small amount of residual tars.

sugars: a number of chemical compounds in the carbohydrate group that are readily soluble in water; are colorless, odorless, and usually crystallizable; and are more

or less sweet in taste. In general, monosaccharides and

disaccharides are termed sugars. Sugars are not only

used in foods but also are raw material for producing

alcohols, acids, and other products.

surfactant: a surface active compound that, when dissolved in water or aqueous solution, reduces its surface

tension or the interfacial tension between it and another

liquid. There are more than 1,200 commercial surfactants, used for soaps, detergents, wetting agents, and

foaming agents.

Taxol: an anticancer drug used for treating ovarian (and

possibly other) cancers. Extracted from the bark of the

Pacific yew (a type of evergreen), Taxol inhibits breakdown

of cell microtubules, consequently preventing cell division.

terephthalate: derived from terephthalic acid

(C6H4COOH)2, used to make polyester resins for fibers,

films, tire cord, apparel, food packaging, beverage bottles, and a variety of other products. 

turbine: a rotary engine that converts the energy of a

moving stream of water, steam, or gas into electrical or

mechanical energy. Today, turbine-powered generators

produce most of the world’s electrical energy. 

watt: the common base unit of power in the metric system. One watt equals one joule per second, or the power

developed in a circuit by a current of one ampere flowing

through a potential difference of one volt. One Watt =

3.413 Btu/hr. A kilowatt is equal to 1,000 watts and a

megawatt is equal to 1 million watts.

xanthan gum: a water-soluble natural gum produced by

the fermentation of glucose with certain microorganisms.

Used as a binder, extender, or stabilizer in foods and

other products.
NOTICE

This report was prepared as an account of work sponsored by agencies of the United

States government. Neither the United States government nor any agency thereof, nor

any of their employees, makes any warranty, express or implied, or assumes any legal

liability or responsibility for the accuracy, completeness, or usefulness of any information, apparatus, product, or process disclosed, or represents that its use would not

infringe privately owned rights. Reference herein to any specific commercial product,

process, or service by trade name, trademark, manufacturer, or otherwise does not

necessarily constitute or imply its endorsement, recommendation, or favoring by the

United States government or any agency thereof. The views and opinions of authors

expressed herein do not necessarily state or reflect those of the United States government or any agency thereof.

Available electronically at http://www.bioproducts-bioenergy.gov

Produced for the Biomass Research and Development Board

by the National Renewable Energy Laboratory, a DOE national laboratory

1617 Cole Boulevard, Golden CO 80401

NREL/BR-510-30185

January 2001

Printed with renewable-source ink on paper containing at least 50% wastepaper,

including 20% postconsumer waste