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

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.

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.

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 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 addresses a significant environmental concern associated with biomass production, specifically the impact on ecosystems and biodiversity. It challenges the idea that biomass is a purely clean and sustainable energy source by highlighting the negative consequences of sourcing biomass from forests. This argument is relevant and directly counters the claims made in the passage about the benefits of biomass.