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Science 5 June 1981:
Vol. 212. no. 4499, pp. 1110 - 1115
DOI: 10.1126/science.212.4499.1110
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Articles

Biomass Energy from Crop and Forest Residues

David Pimentel 1, Mary Ann Moran 2, Sarah Fast 2, Georg Weber 2, Robert Bukantis 2, Lisa Balliett 3, Peter Boveng 3, Cutler Cleveland 3, Sally Hindman 3, and Martin Young 3

1 Member of the faculty at the New York State College of Agriculture and Life Sciences, Cornell University, Ithaca 14853
2 Graduate students at the New York State College of Agriculture and Life Sciences, Cornell University, Ithaca 14853
3 Undergraduate students at the New York State College of Agriculture and Life Sciences, Cornell University, Ithaca 14853

Residues remaining after the harvest of crop and forestry products are being proposed as a substantial energy source for the nation. An estimated 22 percent of the residues might be utilized, providing a renewable source of high-grade energy with the potential of supplying 1 percent of the current U.S. gasoline consumption as ethanol or 4 percent of the total electrical energy used. These net energy benefits are limited by high energy costs to collect, transport, and process the residues. Environmental threats include soil erosion, water runoff, and nutrient loss.


THIS ARTICLE HAS BEEN CITED BY OTHER ARTICLES:
Energy and the U.S. Economy: A Biophysical Perspective.
C. J. Cleveland, R. Costanza, C. A. S. Hall, and R. Kaufmann (1984)
Science 225, 890-897
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