Biomass is fuel produced from living, or recently living organisms.  Waste matter from plants, dead trees, wood chips, and garbage can all be used as biomass sources.  Energy is produced by burning the organic materials, which in turn heats water, which then drives steam turbines to produce electricity.

Another way in which biomass is used is by collecting the methane gas that is released by decomposing garbage in landfills. 

Biomass currently provides 11,000 MW, or 1.4% of renewable energy in the U.S., with the largest amount of energy produced by paper industry waste. 

Biomass can be made into other forms of energy such as methane gas, ethanol (corn), and biodiesel fuels.  There are currently projects in Mexico to convert agave waste from tequila production into biomass energy, which will then power the production plants.     

Biomass is one of the oldest forms of renewable energy, and currently produces 15% of the world’s total energy supply, due to its low cost and ease of production.