Biological Solar Energy Conversion and U. S. Energy Policy

Abstract
Annual USA fossil energy consumption (18 .times. 1015 kcal) is significantly greater than the total solar energy fixed by all plant biomass in the USA (13.5 .times. 1015 kcal). Total annual solar energy conversion by agriculture and forestry biomass is 5.8 .times. 1015 kcal, emphasizing the importance of agriculture and forestry in solar energy conversion. Total annual solar energy conversion by other biomass sources, like wastes, has a potential of producing 1.9% of current fossil energy use.