Welcome

The Biomass Program is committed to developing biofuels that minimize or eliminate the negative environmental impacts and enhance positive environmental impacts associated with conventional fuels and have less carbon emissions throughout their lifecycle—from biomass production to end use in vehicles. We are developing the resources, technologies, and systems needed to sustainably produce, harvest, transport, and convert a variety of biomass feedstocks. Our commitment to sustainability is behind our efforts to:

•  Improve understanding of regional climatic conditions, soil types, land usage, and water issues as they relate to feedstock production
• Support development of diverse, non-food feedstocks that require less water and fertilizer than conventional feedstocks
• Develop technology to efficiently harvest the desired components of biomass while maintaining soil nutrients and limiting erosion
• Foster sustainable forestry practices to enhance forest health
• Evaluate environmental impacts of emerging conversion technologies as well as infrastructure for distribution of biofuels:
• land use, habitat preservation, and soil health
• water use and quality
• air quality
• impacts on greenhouse gas (GHG) emissions
• Understand the relationship between bioenergy production and all aspects of sustainability including economic, social and environmental