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What Teens Say...
Name: Krista Stangel
Essay Theme: Alternative Fuel Research |
State: Oregon
School: Enterprise High School |
Biomass: Our future energy
source |
In 2000, Oregonians spent $7.6 billion on energy. Not only is
this a lot of money, but the majority of this money goes to
foreign countries that we depend on for oil and other resources.
As natural resources continue to decline, it is now more important
than ever that we take action and produce energy from renewable
sources.
Biomass is energy that we can get from organic matter such as
wood, agricultural waste, and other vegetation that can be burned
and used as a source of electricity, heat and fuel. Today, biomass
is the fourth- largest energy resource behind coal, oil and
natural gas, but as our supply of these resources decreases,
our use of biomass is expected to increase. Biofuels and biogas
are just two of the many forms of biomass energy that can be
used to benefit Oregon's environment and economy, as well as
farmers, ranchers and the population as a whole.
Biofuels are liquid fuels produced from biomass that can be
used for transportation. Ethanol and biodiesel are the two most
common types of biofuels. Ethanol is produced by fermenting
high-carbohydrate biomass such as corn, wheat and barley into
an alcohol. Ethanol is a non-toxic renewable fuel that is used
to oxygenate gasoline, making it more environmentally friendly
by reducing exhaust pollutants. Biodiesel is a fuel that can
be used in diesel engines. It can be produced by using vegetable
oils, animal fats and oils, and recycled grease and refining
them into oil. Mustard seed oil and canola are two types of
feedstock in the Northwest that can be used to produce biodiesel.
Mustard seed oil can easily be grown throughout the Pacific
Northwest and canola oil is an ideal crop to rotate with wheat
in north central and eastern Oregon.
Biogas is a type of fuel produced when bacteria break down biological
material without oxygen in a process called anaerobic digestion.
Biogas can be produced from landfills, sewage treatment plants
and manure. In this process, the waste is pumped into a biogas
generator where bacteria break it down into methane which can
be used for heat and electricity. This is ideal for dairy farms
due to the large amount of manure produced there. There are
many pollution problems associated with the manure such as air
pollution, groundwater contamination and the release of methane
contributing to global warming. So not only will anaerobic digestion
get rid of the manure, eliminating these problems, but it will
also produce renewable fuel for the livestock operation.
What
about the cost? The cost of using biomass for energy depends
on the type of biomass, conversion process, location and many
other factors. Biodiesel is currently more costly than regular
diesel, and anaerobic digestion can also be expensive to begin
due to the cost of equipment and facilities. However, as the
cost of fossil fuels continues to rise, biomass energy may soon
be cheaper and more cost effective. By producing this energy
locally, we can ensure that the money will be put right back
into Oregon's economy. Producing energy locally will also create
new jobs for Oregonians. There are tax incentives from the Oregon
Department of Energy for investing in renewable energy sources.
The 2002 Farm Bill also set up many programs to assist farmers
and ranchers in the development of renewable energy. The main
obstacles in using biomass for energy include the lack of infrastructure
and convincing producers and consumers that the tax incentives
and environmental benefits justify the cost.
We don't know when our fossil fuel supply will run out. However,
we do know that it will eventually happen. The only way to prevent
future problems is to educate the population and prepare for
life without these natural resources. We need to follow those
who have already invested in their future and begun to use renewable
resources. Whether it's using corn and wheat for ethanol, producing
feedstock for biodiesel, or using livestock manure to produce
biogas, our nation may soon depend on farmers and ranchers to
help with yet another aspect of daily life.
This essay
was part of a 2005 essay contest sponsored by Oregon
Agriculture in the Classroom.
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