Recently, biomass use is attracting attentions as one of the countermeasures against the global warming and resource exhaustion problems. This thesis deals with the policy of biomass use promotion and its problem from the viewpoint of the promoting institutions. For this purpose, an intensive questionnaire survey was conducted. We selected 260 institutions introduced on websites and mailed them questionnaires in September 2005. We got 111 responses out of those 260 (43.1%).

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This case study of Iitate village confirms that environmental protection, energy security, and local economic growth can be achieved through local production for local consumption of forest bioenergy. Local production for local consumption of forest bioenergy was found to improve local village sustainability. Moreover, sustainability can be further enhanced through new technologies, such as district heating systems and the related establishment of local enterprises and locally managed supply systems. “Sustainable Rural Planning” is now a key phrase in rural areas. Rural communities must create local energy strategies and take action if they wish to be sustainable in the future.

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