Biomass Sequestration, Energy, and Global Change

Biomass offers an alternative renewable energy source to fossil fuels and can be used to produce energy directly or through the production of liquid biofuels, e.g., ethanol, as a substitute for liquid transport fuels. Biomass also offers a vehicle to sequester carbon dioxide, thereby reducing atmospheric carbon, which contributes to global warming. However, in some cases, e.g., forests, there is a tension between biomass energy and biomass sequestration of carbon. This paper focuses on both energy and carbon sequestration issues with a view to a better understanding of the potential role of biomass in energy and climate.