Understanding the global need for a reliable, high-quality, sustainable energy source is driving the field of bioenergy to the forefront. Gone are the days that we can indefinitely rely on fossil fuels to satiate our requirement of energy. Instead we are tasked with finding alternate fuel sources such as wind energy, solar energy, nuclear energy and bioenergy.

Bioenergy involves using the biomass from plants and plant-derived materials to fulfill our fuel, power, and chemical needs, and the US government has stepped up to back funding in this arena. Private organizations and universities are also helming the push to aid in finding and creating the next big bioenergy provider.

To find out more about bioenergy:

1. Look at government resources on biopower, bioenergy and bio fuel alternatives.

2. Use university and bioenergy organization research as additional bioenergy resources for your reference.

3. Consider the use of or collaboration with bioenergy companies who already have a hand in the field.

Action Steps
The best contacts and resources to help you get it done

Check out government resources on alternative energy

Find a wide variety of information on alternative energy and bioenergy from the government organizations pushing the drive away from fossil fuels towards renewable energy.

I recommend: Read the fact sheets available from the Bioenergy Feedstock Information Network. Check out the Department of Energy's information on the opportunities that biomass has to offer. Take a look at the bioenergy information from the United States Department of Agriculture's Economic Research Service. Scope out information on Bioenergy Research Centers from the Genomics: GTL (formerly Genomes to Life) program.

Discover other bioenergy resources

Find even more bioenergy info from organizations, colleges and intellectual collaborations.

I recommend: Check out the membership benefits of the International Energy Agency Bioenergy organization. Find out about Purdue University's bioenergy initiative. Check out Chevron's forum on bioenergy and the need for alternative fuel sources. Find information from San Francisco Bay Area's Joint BioEnergy Institute (JBEI) on feedstocks, deconstruction, fuel synthesis and other technologies.

Use the services of privately-owned bioenergy companies

Create business-to-business ties to privately owned bioenergy companies for use of their service and expertise.

I recommend: Look at the products and alternate fuels available from BioEnergy International. Consider the services of Fulcrum BioEnergy, whose goal is to create a clean, low-cost and sustainable source for domestic transportation fuel. Find a list of contacts for your enzyme industry needs from The BioEnergy Home Page.

Tips & Tactics

Helpful advice for making the most of this Guide

• •  Bioenergy is a promising education path for those looking for a field of study out of high school or for those going back to school to pursue a degree. We can no longer rely on fossil fuels and imported oil to sustain us, and the need for finding a cost effective, efficient fuel source is driving this ever expanding field.