Mixed prairie grasses have emerged as a leader in the quest to produce biofuels. Credit: Cedar Creek LTER Site

According to the NSF, diverse mixtures of native prairie plant species have emerged as a leader in the quest to identify the best source of biomass for producing sustainable, bio-based fuel to replace petroleum.

A new study conducted, by the University of Minnesota Initiative for Renewable Energy and the Environment, shows that mixtures of native perennial grasses and other flowering plants provide more usable energy per acre than corn grain ethanol or soybean biodiesel and are far better for the environment.

According to David Tilman, an ecologist at the University of Minnesota, "Biofuels made from high-diversity mixtures of prairie plants can reduce global warming by removing carbon dioxide from the atmosphere. Even when grown on infertile soils, they can provide a substantial portion of global energy needs, and leave fertile land for food production."  The fuels made from prairie biomass are "carbon negative," which means that producing and using them actually reduces the amount of carbon dioxide (a greenhouse gas) in the atmosphere.

Inspired by this announcement, Earthscape has added several publication and educational links on biofuels.  We have also added several new atmospheric journals to the collection this month.

Educational Resources

Biofuels from Switchgrass: Greener Energy Pastures
This brochure from the Oak Ridge National Laboratory describes how switchgrass as biomass fuel could bring back a 21st-century version of the American prairie. And along with the prairie, it could bring a new crop to America's farms, a boost to U.S. energy independence and brighter prospects for a clean, sustainable future.

The Renewable Energy Policy Project’s primer on Bioenergy offers eight very readable topic areas that provide the learner with comprehensive knowledge of the biomass energy sector.

The National Renewal Energy Lab’s (NREL) Biomass website has many resources including a feature explaining What Is a Biorefinery? 

NEWL’s Learning About Renewable Energy section offers basic to complex info on biomass, geothermal, solar and wind energy.

Also at the NREL site is the Education Programs page offering details about mentored research internships and fellowships for undergraduate and graduate students interested in renewable energy science.

The site where the research on mixed prairie grasses was conducted is one of 26 Long Term Ecological Research (LTER) sites. Check out the page that offers vignettes on the research and findings of each of the 26 sites.

The LTER Schoolyard Project has begun a broad-scale, long-term effort to combine scientific research and science education. The Mission of LTER Education is to use the uniqueness of the LTER Network to promote learning about long-term ecological processes and the earth's ecosystems.  To that end, they have created curriculum and opportunities from Kindergarten through Graduate school.

The Energy Information Administration has created an Energy Kid’s Page with a collection of K – 12 resources including some on renewable fuels.