With the recent spike in global energy prices, growing concern over climate change, and the
push for energy independence, alternative means of energy production become increasingly
viable. These alternatives include nuclear, aeolic, hydroelectric, photovoltaic, solar thermal, and
biorenewable energy technologies. Biorenewable technologies are of particular interest to the
agricultural sector as they will have a significant impact on the utilization of the nation’s
cropland. Here, the term biorenewable technologies refers to the direct combustion of biomass
in addition to biofuel production from biomass.