At this point, however, ethanol production from corn in the U.S. is economically viable only due to a federal tax subsidy. Biomass energy crops, if grown in bulk, however, could be a profitable alternative for farmers, complementing, not competing with, existing crops and thus providing an additional source of income for the agricultural industry. The development of processes that generate multiple products for food, fuel, chemicals and fiber in an integrated system are pointing the way to more productive agriculture, generating greater revenues for the farmer. In addition to rural jobs, expanded biomass power deployment can create high skill, high value job opportunities for utility and power equipment vendors, power plant owners and operators, as well as agricultural equipment vendors. Environmental benefits of modern biomass use are manifold, especially in comparison with fossil fuel based power sources.
Biomass fuels produce virtually no sulfur emissions, helping to mitigate acid rain.
Additionally, the use of waste biomass reduces the volume of material sent to already bulging landfills. Biomass combustion results in less ash than coal combustion, reducing ash disposal costs and landfill space requirements. Biomass ash also is used as a soil additive in farm land. As a result, biomass fuels are an excellent choice for electricity generation in the developing world, and their potential use creates significant export opportunities for U.S. technologies and component manufacturers. If successfully implemented, these efforts would promote industrial and agricultural growth, improve the environment, create jobs, increase U.S. energy security, and provide new export markets.