Foreword --

Introduction --

ch. 1. The development of biomass as an energy source --

1. Fire : the first use of biomass / Norm Kidder --

2. How biomass energy works / The Union of Concerned Scientists --

3. The rise and fall of California's biomass industry / Gregory Morris --

ch. 2. Debates over biomass --

1. Biomass should be used to produce transportation fuels / Oak Ridge National Laboratory --

2. Biomass should not be used to produce transportation fuels / David Pimentel and Tad W. Patzek --

3. Increasing the use of biofuels will lead to mass starvation / George Monbiot --

4. Increasing the use of biofuels could eradicate hunger worldwide / United Nations Food and Agriculture Association --

5. The use of biomass energy harms the environment / Forests.org --

6. The use of biomass energy benefits the environment / Natural Resources Defense Council --

ch. 3. The future of biomass energy --

1. Biomass energy will reduce dependence on fossil fuel / Amory B. Lovins and E. Kyle Datta --

2. Biofuels will benefit farmers / U.S. Department of Energy --

3. Microbes could make ethanol production easier / Paul Elias --

4. Burning landfill gas for energy can reduce global warming / Natural Resources Defense Council --

Facts about biomass --

Glossary --

Chronology--

For further reading --

Index --

Picture credits --

About the editor.