BIOCHAR APPLICATION ON SOILS AND CELLULOSIC ETHANOL PRODUCTION

BIOCHAR APPLICATION ON SOILS AND CELLULOSIC ETHANOL PRODUCTION
Ellen Baum, CLEAN AIR TASK FORCE, Sean Weitner, ENERGY CENTER OF WISCONSIN For the Clean Air Task Force State Climate Network, November 2006

The use of biomass to create fuel, energy and products is nothing new—from residential wood-burning stoves to pulp and paper mills, we have become incredibly sophisticated at extracting value from biological resources. In the face of rising petroleum prices and recognition of the adverse environmental impacts of fossil fuel consumption, however, biomass resources have gained new attention as a renewable energy source. Two bioproducts in particular could significantly change carbon emissions. Biochar is a product of biomass pyrolysis that not only sequesters carbon when applied to soil, but improves soil quality dramatically. Cellulosic ethanol offers an opportunity to displace petroleum with even fewer net greenhouse gas emissions than corn ethanol. We recommend actions that will accelerate the maturation and adoptions of these bioproducts.