Final answer:
While biomass is a major portion of renewable energy, renewables are currently not on track to become one of the top four energy sources when combined with other renewables due to the dominance of fossil fuels, but the upward trend of global renewable consumption reflects a potential for future change.
Step-by-step explanation:
From the references provided, it appears that biomass, despite being a significant portion of renewable energy, may not be sufficient to propel renewables into the top four sources of energy consumption when combined with other renewable resources, such as wind, hydro, and solar, given the current energy landscape.
Fossil fuels still dominate the energy mix, accounting for about 80% of U.S. energy in 2018, with renewables like wind and solar contributing much less—less than 2.5% and 1%, respectively. It is noted that the majority of renewable energy consumption is from biomass, primarily from the burning of wood. Additionally, the future of renewables overcoming fossil fuels depends on various factors, including technological advancements, land availability, economic competitiveness, and the lowering of costs over time.
However, it's essential to remember that the projection of renewable energy consumption rising to 28% of global energy indicates an upward trend. Yet, the NC clean energy plan must contend with the fact that despite growth, renewables are still a smaller piece of the pie compared to fossil fuels. Biomass and other renewables collectively have a long way to go before they can leap over traditional energy sources like coal, gas, and oil to become one of the top four sources of energy consumption without significant changes to infrastructure and technology.