[Editor's note: This idea was presented to the President Elect's transition team.  Submit your ideas to the team, and then share them here!]

One way we could create clean energy as well as the next-generation of ‘BIOFUELS JOBS,' would be to create a new paradigm for retrieving and utilizing the vast untapped resources of our unused biomass resource. 

What would be helpful is a network of biomass co-generators, manned by technicians trained and capable of turning forest, yard, farm and construction debris into energy and raw materials throughout the land.  To collect and process the biomass of wood that is currently being burned uselessly as control burns, or prescribed burns, in our national forests, should be a primary objective for the next generation of GREEN JOBS.

EXAMPLE 1: In the Coconino, Kaibab and Prescott National Forests in Arizona,  (Which are 90% overgrown and provide a volatile hotbox for wildfires and Pine beetle infestation,) forest material is being sequestered and piled into burning zones, and otherwise ‘broadcast burns' that cover hundreds, if not thousands of acres, in the vain attempt to prevent devastating wildfires.  It is known as ‘prescribed burning'  (Or previously ‘control burns',) the result is a useless plume of smoke that descends on the residents of the nearby communities with irritating, cough producing air pollution. This activity by the National Forest Prescribed Fire Plan causes upper respiratory inflammations and further harms to elderly and others with breathing difficulties, not to mention the effect on newborn infants and other susceptible disabled individuals. I will not go into the many toxic chemicals and carcinogens this puts into the atmosphere, but there are plenty.

For over a decade the word has come down from Washington that this is the way to do it.  The National Forest service in attempting to solve these two problems, (the danger of Forest Fires, pine beetle infestation,) by burning the resource which adds to the total CO2 emissions, thereby adding to the greenhouse gas and global warming problem, not to mention the health effects from the smoke.  The so called solution to this ‘double problem,' causes still other problems and deserves direction and mandating from the Federal leadership that could be solved by a national policy of retrieving this biomass, and turning it to better uses.  Many jobs can be created in this area.

EXAMPLE 2: People are clearing their properties of debris and burning it up, to get rid of it.  By taking the material to a central or sub-central collection site, free, where it could be sorted and separated.  Yard waste is a major material being overlooked as a biomass resource. (It is not only a waste, but burning it in the back yard is a health hazard for people in the immediate area.)

Harvesting overgrown forests for raw wood products, the ground debris and other material currently being burned uselessly while polluting the local environment could be turned into energy as well as other products and avoid the causes of respiratory illnesses that impinge on the cost of healthcare.

There is a potential for creation of many small businesses across the land.  This proposal would reduce the amount of CO2 emissions, remove the danger of wildfires in the national forests, eliminate the scourge of Pine Beetle infestations, reduce respiratory illnesses, health care costs, and create many good jobs for local people who are desperate for something useful to do, so they can maintain their mortgages, and the other costs of living.  All it needs is some good direction from the leadership to begin to solve these and many other problems.