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Using biomass for energy has positive and negative effects
Biomass and biofuels made from biomass are alternative energy sources to fossil fuels—coal, petroleum, and natural gas. Burning either fossil fuels or biomass releases carbon dioxide (CO2), a greenhouse gas. However, the plants that are the source of biomass for energy capture almost the same amount of CO2 through photosynthesis while growing as is released when biomass is burned, which can make biomass a carbon-neutral energy source.1

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TVA’s power portfolio is dynamic and adaptable in the face of changing demands and regulations. Our emphasis has moved away from traditional coal-based production and toward cleaner forms of power generation, and today the power we deliver is nearly 60 percent carbon-free.

So that we remain responsive to the Valley's electricity demand on hot summer and cold winter days, we're adding more cleaner-burning natural gas units. To generate more carbon-free power, we’ve added the 21st century’s first new nuclear unit. As always, we generate clean, renewable power with our 29 hydroelectric dams. We have plans underway to build TVA's first utility-scale solar site and have contracted for more than a thousand megawatts of solar to help customers meet their renewable goals.

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Sunlight shining down from 93 million miles away. Wind blowing across a grassy plain. Methane gas seeping from decaying matter. These sources of abundant, fossil-free energy form a small but growing part of the power mix as TVA embraces renewables as a part of its vision to provide low-cost, cleaner energy for the future.

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We invite children ages 4–8 to join an NREL staff member on the first and third Monday of each month from noon to 2 p.m. as they read a story and provide a related activity. Sign up for a virtual Stories and STEM program (via Zoom), or we will travel up to 30 miles from NREL to deliver an in-person program.

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The Energy Department announced what it said are new investments in its bid to secure U.S. leadership in floating offshore wind development by advancing offshore wind transmission planning, research and technology, and partnerships.

DOE said that two-thirds of U.S. offshore wind resource are located in deep-water areas that require floating platforms. It said its latest actions are intended to support the goals of its Floating Offshore Wind Shot to reduce the cost of floating offshore wind energy by more than 70% by 2035 and deploy 15 GW of floating offshore wind by 2035.

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Between last August, when President Joe Biden’s landmark climate bill became law, and the end of January, companies have announced more than 100,000 clean energy jobs in the US, according to an analysis released Monday by the nonprofit advocacy group Climate Power.

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Russia’s invasion of Ukraine is squeezing global oil supplies and inflation is jacking up prices at the pumps. Although petrol prices have started to fall in recent months, the situation has delivered a powerful reminder of the world’s dependence on fossil fuels.

It also means biofuels are having a moment. The corn-ethanol industry boasts that blending its product into petrol is saving consumers money and creating jobs in the farming communities that supply its distilleries.

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The Center for Bioenergy Innovation at Oak Ridge National Laboratory offers a unique opportunity for early career scientists to conduct groundbreaking research while learning what it takes to manage a large collaborative science center. Eight talented scientists from CBI’s partnering institutions have participated in the Early Career Development program, benefitting their career, their science and the center.

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The Center for Bioenergy Innovation at Oak Ridge National Laboratory depends on the efforts of its nationwide community of scientists for the continuation of its success as a research center. CBI’s pioneering researchers have leveraged their deep expertise in biochemistry, molecular biology, genomics, and chemical and biological engineering to make fundamental advancements for the efficient breakdown and conversion of biomass into sustainable fuels and bioproducts.

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Schools across the United States can benefit from infrastructure upgrades—improved ventilation and increased energy efficiency is good for students, teachers, and the school's bottom line. But in understaffed and underfunded schools around the country, the ability to implement these sustainability measures often remains out of reach.

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