National Renewable Energy Laboratory

Dynamic Maps, GIS Data, and Analysis Tools

Biomass Maps
These maps illustrate the biomass resources available in the United States by
county. Biomass feedstock data are analyzed both statistically and graphically
using geographic information systems (GIS). The following feedstock categories
are evaluated: crop residues, forest residues, primary and secondary mill
residues, urban wood waste, and methane emissions from manure management,
landfills, and domestic wastewater treatment. If you have difficulty accessing
these maps because of a disability, please contact the Webmaster.

Total Biomass Resources in the United States (JPG 1.5 MB)

Total Biomass Resources per Square Kilometer in the United States (JPG
1.5 MB)

Crop residues (JPG 1.5 MB)

The following crops were included in this analysis: corn, wheat, soybeans,
cotton, sorghum, barley, oats, rice, rye, canola, dry edible beans, dry edible
peas, peanuts, potatoes, safflower, sunflower, sugarcane, and flaxseed. The
quantities of crop residues that can be available in each county are estimated
using total grain production, crop to residue ratio, moisture content, and taking
into consideration the amount of residue left on the field for soil protection,
grazing, and other agricultural activities. Source: USDA, National Agricultural
Statistics Service; five-year average: 2003-2007.

Forest residues (JPG 1.6 MB)

This category includeslogging residues and other removable material left after
carrying out silviculture operations and site conversions. Logging residue
comprises unused portions of trees, cut or killed by logging and left in the
woods. Other removable materials are the unutilized volume of trees cut or killed
during logging operations. Source: USDA, Forest Service's Timber Product
Output database, 2007.
Primary mill residues (JPG 1.5 MB)
Primary mill residues include wood materials (coarse and fine) and bark
generated at manufacturing plants (primary wood-using mills) when round wood
products are processed into primary wood products, such as slabs, edgings,
trimmings, sawdust, veneer clippings and cores, and pulp screenings. Source:
USDA, Forest Service's Timber Product Output database, 2007.

Secondary mill residues (JPG 1.5 MB)

Secondary mill residues include wood scraps and sawdust from woodworking
shops — furniture factories, wood container and pallet mills, and wholesale
lumberyards. Data on the number of businesses by county was gathered from
the U.S. Census Bureau, 2002 County Business Patterns.

Urban wood waste (JPG 1.5 MB)

Urban wood waste includeswood residues from MSW (wood chips and pallets),
utility tree trimming and/or private tree companies, and construction and
demolition sites. Source: U.S. Census Bureau, 2000 Population data; BioCycle
Journal: "State of Garbage in America", January 2004; County Business Patterns
2002.

Methane emissions from landfills (JPG 1.5 MB)

The methane emissions are estimated for each landfill considering total waste in
place, landfill size, and location (arid or non-arid climate), and then aggregated
to county level. Note: this dataset doesn't include all landfills in the United
States due to gaps in either precise geographic location or waste in place.
Source: EPA, Landfill Methane Outreach Program (LMOP), April 2008.

Methane emissions from manure management (JPG 1.5 MB)

The following animal types were included in this analysis: dairy cows, beef cows,
hogs and pigs, sheep, chickens and layers, broilers, and turkey. The methane
emissions were calculated by animal type and manure management system at a
county level. Source: USDA, National Agricultural Statistics Service, 2002 data.
Methane emissions from domestic wastewater treatment (JPG 1.5 MB)
The methane emissions are estimated using the methodology from the EPA
Inventory of U.S. Greenhouse Gas Emissions and Sinks: 1990-2003. Source:
U.S. Census Bureau, 2007 County Population.

References
Anelia Milbrandt, "A Geographic Perspective on the Current Biomass Resource
Availability in the United States", National Renewable Energy Laboratory, Golden
CO, December 2005. (PDF 2.4 MB) Download Adobe Reader. Note: Although, the
document contains the methodology for the development of an older
assessment, the information is applicable to this assessment as well. The
difference is only in the data's time period.