In the US electric sector, biomass energy accounts for only about 1.5% of total generation and has seen little growth in the past two decades. However, some forecasts assert that the use of biomass for energy purposes could rise significantly in coming years under policies to promote renewable energy; a recent study from the US Department of Energy forecasts that consumption of forest biomass could double by 2030, and a some research suggests that the US alone could see large tracts of land in biomass energy production by mid or end of the century under a CO2 policy scenario, a future that would use the equivalent of about 75% of today’s agricultural area (e.g. Gurgel et al., 2008). Other forecasts see fairly little growth in biopower in the US. (e.g. Bird et al., 2010)