Open Access Open Access  Restricted Access Subscription Access

Environmental Issues of Biomass Energy in the United States

Aishwarya Yoganand

Abstract


As the world is edging towards severe global climatic issues, there is a rapid growth in the promotion and usage of renewable energy technology; believed to mitigate carbon emissions, the main cause of global warming. In the United States, the highest rate of renewable energy is generated in the form of Bioenergy. Being a renewable source of energy, biomass energy undoubtedly has a great potential in replacing fossil fuels. But, the pressing issue is whether bioenergy is truly sustainable. The intent behind this literature review is to bring forth the details of the three main environmental issues concerning the bioenergy industry in the U.S, which is water footprint, carbon neutrality, and effects of ethanol produced from corn. The review also aims at introducing suggestions that might counter these issues.


Full Text:

PDF

References


Renewable Energy.? Renewable Energy. Accessed December 11, 2015. http://www3.epa.gov/statelocalclimate/local/topics/renewable.html.

Rahman, S. ?Green Power: What Is It and Where Can We Find It?? IEEE Power and Energy Magazine IEEE Power and Energy Mag., 2003, 30-37.

Renewable Energy Today and Tomorrow.? IEEE Xplore. 2001. http://ieeexplore.ieee.org/xpl/articleDetails.jsp?arnumber=940290.

U.S. Energy Information Administration EIA Independent Statistics and Analysis.? U.S. Energy Information Administration (EIA). 2015. http://www.eia.gov/.

Dahiya, Anju. Bioenergy. Academic Press, 2014.

Biopower Renewable Energy World.? Biopower Renewable Energy World. http://www.renewableenergyworld.com/bioenergy/tech/biopower.html.

Liquid Biofuels for Transport Prospects, Risks and Opportunities.? Biofuels: 1. What Are Biofuels? http://www.greenfacts.org/en/biofuels/l-2/1-definition.html.

Coombs, J. ?Environmental Impacts of Bioenergy.? Biomass and Bioenergy: 51-54.

Renewable Energy per LEED.? Building My Green Life RSS. http://www.buildingmygreenlife.com/renewable-energy-per-leed/.

Scown, Corinne D., Arpad Horvath, and Thomas E. Mckone. ?Water Footprint of U.S. Transportation Fuels.? Environmental Science & Technology Environ. Sci. Technol., 2011, 2541-553.


Refbacks

  • There are currently no refbacks.