What is biomass and why is it often touted as a vast improvement over corn-derived ethanol?
Biomass derived from wood, switchgrass and agricultural residue, to name only a few sources offers great potential, particularly to Alabama, as a renewable energy source. Unlike corn-derived ethanol production, in which only the kernels are extracted to make ethanol, every bit of biomass can be used in energy output. Equally appealing is its smaller carbon footprint. Compared with corn-derived ethanol, growing biomass requires far fewer inputs from fossil-fuel derived products, such as nitrogen fertilizer. Likewise, their conversion into ethanol results in considerably fewer carbon dioxide emissions.
