The Local Bioenergy Initiative is a project of the Agricultural Watershed Institute, in cooperation with participating individuals, agencies, and organizations. It is a collaborative project to begin growning and using perennial energy grasses in Central Illinois.
In the not-so-distant future, perennial energy grasses and crop residues may be used to make advanced liquid biofuels for transportation. With current technology, renewable biomass can be used to heat buildings and generate electricity.
Using biomass to replace fossil fuel produces many benefits. The value of ecosystem services is likely to be important to the economic viability of energy crops. [read this brochure]