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10. Biomass technologies need support as atransitional step to a new mix of energy sources,including nuclear power, wind, “clean coal,” etc.The Claim: Faced with enormous energy challenges, globalsociety must change how we produce energy. However, it istoo early to know what the new energy mix will be, as therelevant technologies are not yet in place. While biomassmay in the end play only a small role in the new energyeconomy, its advantage is that it can be quickly deployednow as a stop-gap energy source while society transitions tomore long term solutions that are not yet fully developed orneed more time for scale-up, such as hydrogen power,nuclear fusion and ‘clean coal.’ The enormity of the energytransition challenge means that biomass technologies mustbe explored and developed in order to increase the range ofoptions available.The Reality: At its root, global society is faced with notsimply an energy crisis but a crisis of overproduction andconsumption. Gauging the value of a biomass-fuelled economyagainst other inequitable production models, such as nuclearpower or carbon capture and storage, is missing the point.Reduction in overall energy demand is more politicallyunpalatable but ecologically critical. Boosting support fordecentralized peasant agriculture, which does not fuel climatechange and assures food sovereignty, is another means toaddress our global crises.ETC Group 34 www.etcgroup.org