Development of biomass power can not only clean up the environment, provide additional 20,000 mw power but also accelerate rural growth by creating substantial employment in these areas, according to a report. "Apart from providing a much needed relief from power shortages, power projects based on biomass would also open up new avenues for employment generation in rural areas through collection, storage and handling of biomass materials," according to a Ministry of Non-conventional Energy sources(MNEs) report.