Bioenergy and Biobased Products Research
Our Nation’s forests are a sustainable, strategic asset in achieving and enhancing U.S. energy
security, economic opportunity, environmental quality, and global competitiveness. Our forests
and grasslands can provide raw materials to create liquid transportation fuels, alternatives to
petrochemicals, and other biobased products. A sustainable, renewable bioenergy and biobased
products sector is a growing source of jobs in the U.S. economy.
Woody biomass is a critical renewable resource that has the potential to supply a significant
portion of U.S. liquid transportation fuels, chemicals, and substitutes for fossil fuel-intensive
products, helping to meet the goals set out in the Energy Independence and Security Act of
2007. Converting biomass into energy and biobased products provides numerous benefits
including improved forest health and productivity (e.g., by removing fuel for uncharacteristic
wildfires) and economic opportunities, especially helping to stabilize and enhance rural
economies.
The creation of a sustainable bioindustry producing biofuels and bioproducts on a significant
scale is critically dependent on having a large, sustainable supply of biomass with appropriate
characteristics at a reasonable cost; cost-effective and efficient processes for converting wood to
biofuels, chemicals, and other high-value products; and useful tools for decision making and
policy analysis. The Forest Service R&D biomass research program is focused on delivering
value in these three areas.
Recent Forest Service R&D accomplishments include:

Partnered with the Northwest Advanced Renewables Alliance (NARA) to conduct outreach
and education activities related to forming regional alliances and finding communities to
work into a sustainable biofuels supply chain. Two potential sites were identified in the
northern Rocky Mountains that could process 1 million tons of biomass annually for jet
biofuel production and scientists are currently assessing possibilities in western Oregon
and Washington.

Estimated county-level forest-based biomass supply curves. These curves were used in
combination with estimates of agricultural biomass supply curves to determine the mix and
cost of forest and agricultural biomass supply that would be needed to meet cellulosic
biofuels production targets for 2022 set by the 2007 Energy Independence and Security Act.
Research in FY 2015 will continue to focus on providing critical science and technology for
wood-based bioenergy and bioproducts, including developing sustainable production,
management, and utilization systems and practices so that land owners and managers can
effectively integrate biomass production into management, efficient feedstock harvesting and
logistics systems, life cycle assessment, efficient biorefinery processes, and conversion
technologies and coproducts development. FS R&D continue the development of wood-based
biofuels, chemicals, and products that can substitute for petroleum-based materials, including
developing biomass deconstruction science and technology, conversion technologies for woodbased liquid fuels including drop-in fuels, and science and technology for manufacturing
chemicals and other co-products from biomass-to-energy conversion.