Claim: Biomass, or organic matter used as fuel, is an excellent source of clean and renewable energy. It generates far fewer emissions than fossil fuels and reduces our nation’s reliance on foreign energy sources.
Counterclaim: Most biomass is produced by burning wood, and since wood is a less energy-dense fuel, it creates more carbon emissions than coal does when producing electricity.
The student who wrote the claim is developing a revised claim as a rebuttal to the counterclaim. Which is the best revision?
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Responses
Only two percent of the world’s energy is produced using biomass, so we are unaware of what its overall environmental impact will be.
Only two percent of the world’s energy is produced using biomass, so we are unaware of what its overall environmental impact will be.
A wide range of organic materials can be used to make biomass, and sources such as algae are far more energy-dense than wood.
A wide range of organic materials can be used to make biomass, and sources such as algae are far more energy-dense than wood.
One type of biomass, that is charcoal produced from plant material,r, can also be used for enriching soil, as it prevents pesticides from leaching and running off.
One type of biomass, that is charcoal produced from plant material,r, can also be used for enriching soil, as it prevents pesticides from leaching and running off.
Depending on how they are generated, geothermal and hydroelectric energy can create more emissions than coal when producing electricity.
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The best revision for the claim as a rebuttal to the counterclaim is:
"A wide range of organic materials can be used to make biomass, and sources such as algae are far more energy-dense than wood."
This revision effectively addresses the counterclaim by providing information on alternative biomass sources that are more energy-dense and produce fewer emissions, countering the argument that primarily burning wood contributes to higher carbon emissions.
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