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Biomass
Biomass' future
The United States currently has more than 11,000 MW of biomass electricity generating capacity (including MSW and landfill methane), according to DOE
estimates. The technical potential for additional
biomass electric capacity is huge. State-by-state analyses show
a large and untapped potential for biomass-fired
electricity generation. A very separate question,
of course, is how much of this potential makes
financial, environmental, or political sense.
This can only be answered with a site-specific
analysis.
Similarly, the potential for new landfill methane is considerable. Currently more than 330 landfill-gas energy systems are operating in the United States, but the potential is far from fully tapped: The Environmental
Protection Agency estimates that "more than 500 other landfill sites present attractive opportunities for project development." EPA
databases describe many of these opportunities.
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