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While biomass energy doesn't have the cachet of other renewable energy sources like solar and wind, the industry is taking steps to change that perception. And it's started a multi-pronged effort in two areas where it will get the most attention: in a public relations campaign and a simultaneous drive to gain favor with Washington policymakers, particularly with regard to tax and job creation policies.

The Biomass Power Association (BPA) just launched a $250,000 public relations campaign to raise the profile of biomass in Washington as a fossil fuel alternative and to help it get tax treatment equivalent to solar and wind.

"The goal of this campaign is to inform people of the long-term environmental and economic benefits of biomass power," said Bob Cleaves, President and CEO of the BPA. "We will emphasize that biomass power actually reduces greenhouse gases and presents the greatest opportunity to meeting a strong standard for renewable electricity and create thousands of clean energy jobs."

The production tax credits awarded to existing biomass power facilities are set to expire at the end of this year. The industry says an expiration of the tax credit would put thousands of jobs in at risk. "The Biomass Power Association urges Congress to level the playing field in the renewable industry by providing tax equity, or parity, in the production tax credit. Further, Congress must extend these tax credits to existing biomass power facilities for an additional five years," according to the BPA.

The Biomass Power Association's campaign includes an educational briefing in Washington, a facilities tour, advertising and a web site update. So it will emphasize its benefits as a resource that could create green jobs in the current downturn and as a resource that could help the nation reach its renewable energy mandates in legislation currently pending in Congress.

But the industry knows that the effort to raise its profile will only show a measure of success if it gains more favorable tax treatment. The BPA says biomass has been taxed at twice the rate of competing renewables such as wind and geothermal, leaving it at a competitive disadvantage. It also wants Congress to extend the production tax credit for an additional five years for those plants that were awarded the credit in 2004, but could see it expire in 2009.

The Department of Energy estimates that biomass-powered plants currently provide almost 2 percent of the U.S. electricity. It projects that the potential for biomass could grow to 15 percent by 2020. Power plants that burn wood and plant materials for electricity account for more than 50 percent of America's renewable energy.

The organization says biomass power is a $1 billion industry with 80 facilities in 20 states and provides over 18,000 jobs nationwide. Its power plants are predominately located in rural communities.

The BPA is part of the RES-Alliance for Jobs, a coalition of businesses and organizations supporting an aggressive renewable electricity standard. This alliance is promoting a 25 percent renewable electricity standard (RES) to help spur economic growth and investment and create thousands of new jobs in the renewable energy industries. The American Clean Energy and Security Act (ACES) passed the U.S. House in June and is now pending in the Senate calls for a 15 percent standard by 2020 but has loopholes renewable energy trade associations are trying to remove as the legislation moves forward.

BPA is promoting biomass in the Southeastern states as the renewable energy source of choice since those regions lack wind and solar potential that exists elsewhere. Unlike solar and wind, biomass power can produce electricity 24 hours a day.

"Many southeastern states lack sustainable access to wind or solar power," said Cleaves. "This campaign will demonstrate how biomass power can produce enough renewable electricity to meet a strong federal mandate in all fifty states and create thousands of green jobs in the process. Biomass is the unknown renewable energy source that will lead the way to a clean energy future."