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The report argues that woody biomass is a low-carbon substitute for fossil fuels that can support forest health and rural economies if managed sustainably. It identifies high harvesting and transport costs, a lack of site-specific scientific data, and public distrust of federal land management as primary barriers. The author recommends technology-neutral energy incentives, the establishment of national environmental indicators, and the use of collaborative, multi-stakeholder frameworks to ensure biomass harvesting complements ecological restoration and biodiversity conservation.

The American Clean Energy and Security Act of 2009 (ACES) proposes a cap-and-trade system to reduce US greenhouse gas emissions to 17% below 2005 levels by 2020 and 83% by 2050. While power plants and fossil fuel producers are capped, bioenergy from renewable biomass is exempt, and agriculture and forestry sectors can generate carbon offsets. The bill introduces a combined Efficiency and Renewable Electricity Standard requiring 20% renewable energy by 2021, expands the definition of renewable biomass for the Renewable Fuels Standard, and authorizes funding for woodstove replacements, the National Bioenergy Partnership, and strategic tree-planting.

The document identifies approximately 2 million mobile homes built before 1976 as the "worst housing stock" in the U.S., noting they are energy-inefficient and often house low-income, elderly, or disabled residents. It highlights that these structures are often ineligible for traditional weatherization programs and proposes the Energy Efficient Manufactured Housing Act of 2009 to provide rebates for ENERGY STAR qualified homes. The text details the differences between mobile, manufactured, and modular homes, and provides demographic data on residents of pre-1980 manufactured housing.

The document argues that capturing biogas—primarily methane—from organic waste sources is a cost-effective method to mitigate climate change and displace fossil fuels. It details the technical and economic viability of landfill gas (LFG) projects, wastewater treatment anaerobic digestion, and agricultural manure digesters, while identifying policy barriers such as high capital costs and grid interconnection issues.

The fact sheet identifies significant quantities of agricultural production left in fields and waste generated during food processing as viable, non-food-competing biomass for biofuels. It details the causes of crop loss, such as weather and health outbreaks, and highlights existing technologies for recovering value from potato, orange, and corn waste, as well as the potential for anaerobic digestion of wastewater to produce biogas.

The fact sheet describes biomass cofiring—the simultaneous combustion of biomass and a base fuel, typically coal—as a practical bridge to a renewable energy future. It highlights benefits including linear reductions in CO2 and SO2 emissions, lower capital costs for retrofitting existing boilers, and support for sustainable forest management by creating markets for hazardous fuels. However, it identifies barriers such as feedstock preparation costs and ASTM standards that prevent the sale of biomass-contaminated fly ash. The document suggests that replacing 5% of U.S. coal with biomass could reduce total U.S. emissions by 1.5% within 5-10 years.

The document advocates for increased funding for SEP, WAP, and LIHEAP, noting that a NASEO survey identified over $8 billion in 'shovel ready' energy projects nationwide. It highlights the efficiency of these programs, specifically that weatherization reduces electricity costs by 19% and natural gas costs by 33%, while noting that LIHEAP demand is rising due to unemployment and energy prices.

The document describes the electric transmission grid as an interconnected system that moves electricity from generation sites to consumers via the path of least resistance. It outlines the grid's division into three major interconnections—Western, Eastern, and Ercot—and notes that transmission is governed by a mix of federal, regional, state, and local entities. The text highlights the necessity of transmission for delivering remote clean energy and the requirement for billions of dollars in investment to meet electricity demand and support expanded generation from renewable and conventional sources.

The document presents a collection of data points from multiple research organizations arguing that renewable energy (RE) and energy efficiency (EE) sectors generate more employment per unit of energy or investment than fossil fuels. It highlights national and state-level projections in the US, such as the potential for 4.2 million new green jobs by 2038, and international examples from Germany, Spain, Brazil, and India. Specific technology sectors—including wind, solar, biofuels, and geothermal—are detailed alongside the impact of policy mechanisms like Renewable Portfolio Standards (RPS) and investment tax credits.

The document highlights the role of school buses in reducing overall transportation emissions compared to private vehicles, while warning that diesel engine idling consumes significant fuel and poses severe health risks to children. It promotes an idle reduction curriculum developed by the Utah Clean Cities program to mitigate these impacts.

The document explains the different types of plug-in electric vehicles (PEVs), including battery electric vehicles and various plug-in hybrids. It argues that PEVs can enhance U.S. energy security by displacing petroleum, which currently accounts for 96 percent of U.S. transportation energy. The text highlights that PEVs are more efficient than internal combustion engines, offering lower operating costs and a carbon footprint equivalent to a 50 mpg gasoline car. The primary barrier to market expansion is battery technology, though manufacturers like Chevrolet, Nissan, Toyota, and Volkswagen are working toward production by 2010.

The document advocates for amending the Energy Independence and Security Act of 2007 to include federal forest residues as eligible feedstocks for the Renewable Fuel Standard (RFS). It argues that utilizing these materials would provide a sustainable source of cellulosic biofuels without the indirect greenhouse gas emissions associated with agricultural land displacement. Furthermore, the author contends that creating markets for small-diameter trees through the RFS would make hazardous fuel reduction and forest restoration more cost-effective, reducing the risk of catastrophic wildfires and improving ecosystem health.

The document examines the limitations of the Energy Independence and Security Act of 2007's definition of 'renewable biomass,' which excludes many merchantable trees from private, naturally-regenerated forests. It argues that including these feedstocks would increase the availability of cellulosic fuels, avoid indirect greenhouse gas emissions associated with agricultural land-use change, and provide a tool for forest stewardship, including hazardous fuels reduction and wildlife habitat restoration. The author contends that the current RFS exclusions are arbitrary and should be replaced by ecologically meaningful sustainability criteria.

The document reports that 55 cellulosic biorefineries were complete, under construction, or planned across 31 U.S. states by July 2008, with an expected capacity of 629.5 million gallons per year. It outlines various conversion technologies and feedstocks, including agricultural residues and energy crops, and details significant financial investments from the U.S. Department of Energy and various state governments to advance the industry.

The document aggregates data from multiple polling organizations (including CNN, Gallup, and the Harris Poll) regarding public attitudes toward global warming. Key trends include a majority of U.S. adults viewing global warming as a proven fact caused by human activity, support for cap-and-trade systems and renewable energy mandates, and a growing belief that the U.S. should lead in reducing greenhouse gas emissions regardless of other nations' actions. Regional data highlights specific concerns in Florida regarding sea-level rise and in California regarding state-level emissions laws.

The document provides a comprehensive overview of employment trends in the clean energy sector, contrasting the job-creation potential of renewables and energy efficiency with traditional fossil fuel industries. It highlights specific national and state-level projections in the U.S., international trends in the EU and Brazil, and sector-specific data for wind, solar, biofuels, and geothermal energy, while also noting the decline of coal mining employment.

The document outlines three legislative efforts in the US: the Green Jobs Act of 2007 and the Green Jobs Energy Amendment, both of which seek to create energy efficiency and renewable energy worker training programs via the Department of Labor and Department of Energy, and the NEW ERA Act of 2007, which proposes competitive grants for technicians in bioenergy and agriculture-based renewable energy.

The document examines the risks of federal loan guarantees for nuclear power, highlighting how proposed legislation in 2007 could remove Congressional oversight and shift significant financial burdens to taxpayers. It notes that the nuclear industry's request for at least $50 billion in guarantees over two years far exceeds previous R&D spending. The briefing argues that the Department of Energy (DOE) lacks the necessary infrastructure, staffing, and procedures to manage these risks, which are compounded by the nuclear industry's history of massive cost overruns and high default probabilities.

The House and Senate both proposed significantly higher funding for DOE Energy Efficiency and Renewable Energy (EE/RE) programs for FY 2008 than the Administration's request. The House bill (H.R. 2641) appropriated $1.98 billion, while the Senate bill (S. 1751) appropriated $1.72 billion. Both legislative bodies restored funding for geothermal energy and hydropower, which the Administration had eliminated, and increased budgets for solar, wind, and biomass R&D. Additionally, both the House and Senate increased funding for fossil fuel R&D while appropriating less than the Administration's request for nuclear power.

The document summarizes key scientific literature on climate change, including the role of CO2 in temperature variation, ocean warming, sea level rise, and ecological impacts. It highlights foundational research from Svante Arrhenius and Charles Keeling, as well as reports from the IPCC and the Arctic Climate Impact Assessment. Key findings include the detection of human-induced ocean heat increases, the potential for significant sea level rise from ice sheet melt, and the correlation between rising tropical sea surface temperatures and increased hurricane destructiveness.