Put biomass in the mix

05/18/2009- Boston Globe

If done sustainably, generating electricity from biomass can dramatically reduce global warming emissions by displacing coal or other fossil fuels. Emissions associated with burning fossil fuels for planting, harvesting, transporting, and processing biomass - in addition to emissions from a biomass plant's smokestacks - must be weighed against the carbon dioxide that is taken out of the atmosphere when biomass fuel is regrown. When done right, it's a balanced cycle with few net carbon dioxide emissions.