[nanomonkey]

Totally agree, woody biomass is being under utilizes these days. Gasification produces syngas which can be used to produce heat and electricity when wind and solar aren't producing. The biochar that is left over can be introduced into the soil to improve it's nutrient and bio-activity (terrapreta). This is essentially reverse mining of carbon and is stable for thousands of years in the soil. It also keeps the biomass from producing greenhouse gases from decomposition.

Beyond trees, we should also be growing algae and other plant mater to sequester more carbon and produce oils, sugars and other useful ingredients for our lives. This can be done at sea or in areas where water is scarce and normal vegetation grows poorly.