Biomass is renewable organic matter that is used as fuel. This organic matter may come from plants or animals. Using biomass enables less emissions, or gasses, to be released than when fossil fuels are used.

Question

Biomass 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. And, best of all, it greatly reduces the waste that ends up in landfills.

Question
Use the passage to answer the question.

A student is developing a counterclaim to this argument. Which counterclaim is the most fair and effective?

(1 point)
Responses

Solar, wind, and geothermal sources of energy are far better than biomass because they produce more renewable energy with less effort and expense.
Solar, wind, and geothermal sources of energy are far better than biomass because they produce more renewable energy with less effort and expense.

Biomass is nothing new; in fact, before oil and gas became major energy sources, a large amount of the fuel used in the United States came from burning wood.
Biomass is nothing new; in fact, before oil and gas became major energy sources, a large amount of the fuel used in the United States came from burning wood.

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.
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.

Healthy ecosystems are forever destroyed when forests are cut down, which must be done in order to produce biomass from wood.
Healthy ecosystems are forever destroyed when forests are cut down, which must be done in order to produce biomass from wood.

Answer 1

The most fair and effective counterclaim to the argument presented in the passage is:

Healthy ecosystems are forever destroyed when forests are cut down, which must be done in order to produce biomass from wood.

This counterclaim directly addresses the environmental concerns associated with biomass production, highlighting the potential negative consequences of sourcing biomass from trees, which can undermine the benefits of using biomass as a renewable energy source. It presents a legitimate concern related to sustainability and environmental impact, making it a strong counterpoint to the argument in favor of biomass.