Policies and Incentives for Biomass Power to Become a Real Player in the Competitive Electricity Market

ABSTRACT

Biomass has produced energy for hundreds of years, but only in the last 20 years has the production of electricity become viable. While biomass is plentiful and the benefits many, the industry has not grown at the rate of other, traditional generating sources. We will examine policy barriers renewable energy development has faced, and pose solutions that, in a new competitive market, could level the playing field with traditional generation. This paper reviews the federal policies in existence today, analyzes what several states have done, and discusses legislation that may be signed into law this fall.