THE USE OF BIOMASS FOR ENERGY PRODUCTION AT AMERICA’S RURAL ELECTRIC SYSTEMS

The National Rural Electric Cooperative Association (NRECA) is the service organization/trade association that serves the rural electric systems in the United States. Approximately 1000 of these small, consumer-owned electric utilities exist, serving some 70% of the land area and 10% of the load in the United States, in the rural areas where no other utility wanted to serve. The potential for the use of bioenergy in rural America is enormous because bioresidues that can fuel energy production schemes can be found in these areas.