Use in the United States

The United States is currently the largest biopower (that is biomass for electricity) generator, with over half of the world's installed capacity. Biomass represents 1.5% of the total electricity supply. This compares to 0.1% for wind and solar combined. There are about 7,800 MW of biomass power capacity installed at more than 350 locations in the U.S., representing 1% of total U.S. electricity generation capacity. The U.S. biomass power industry is primarily located in the Northeast, Southeast, and West Coast regions, representing a $15 billion investment and 66,000 jobs. Most states are generating at least some of their energy from biomass. For a complete state by state list of renewable energy use please see the EIA's Renewable Energy Report 2003.*

Global Use

Bioenergy is currently used worldwide. According to the International Energy Agency (IEA), the world derives 11% of its energy from biomass [2]. However, developing nations use closer to 35% biomass for power. This percentage is higher still for the poorest nations which depend on burning biomass for their cooking, heating and fueling [3]. Although biomass for industrial use is much healthier for the environment, poor ventiliation and inaccessibility to high efficiency stoves vastly increases indoor air pollution (IAP) and poses a huge health threat to most of the world's population. The World Health Organization Department of Child and Adolescent Health reports that:

"More than two billion people in the world and 75% of households in India, China and nearby countries, and 50- 75% of people in parts of South America and Africa still use solid fuels which include dung, wood, agricultural residues or coal. Nearly 2.5 million people die each year from air pollution. The burden is greater due to indoor air (65%) than ambient air pollution. More than 90% of this exposure occurs in developing countries, often in rural or peri-urban areas, because of the use of biomass as the main source of energy. The total amount of pollution released from domestic fuels is not high relative to fossil fuels used in industry, therefore, there may be less
harmful effects on environment; however human exposure to IAP is much higher, leading to increased adverse health effects. This is because (i) people tend to spend more time indoors than outdoors, and (ii) the concentration
of air pollutants indoors is much higher due to limited ventilation, compared to outdoors where pollutants quickly
become diluted. Therefore, developing countries account for 77% of all global particulate exposure. Numerous
studies have found that IAP levels are typically many times higher in developing countries than developed world
standards for ambient air quality [3]."

When burned the dung cakes release toxic levels of methane, coal and to a lesser extent wood release carbon monoxide and carbon dioxide, sulfur and nitrous oxides and other particulates. Most of the time, because of cultural expectations, those most effected are women and children who are often enclosed in poorly ventilated rooms inhaling smoke all day while cooking. Poor ventilation and use of inefficient and less technologically advanced equipment are leading to increased lung, eye and respiratory diseases, as reported by World Health Organization.