|
|
|
|
|
|
Research and Technology Updates
Funding for Clean Energy Projects Can Provide Immediate Stimulus and Long-Term Economic Benefits One of the first and most important jobs for the new Congress in January will be to pass an economic stimulus bill to jump start the economy, create jobs, and revitalize American industry – a tall order, which could cost between $500 billion and $1 trillion. Therefore, it is critical for this legislation to fund projects that not only will create jobs and economic activity in the near term but also will strengthen our long-term economic security, and that includes addressing the urgent threat of climate change. “A transition to a clean energy economy will create hundreds of thousands of American jobs in the near term while also stimulating long-term business opportunities for American entrepreneurs, reduce our vulnerability to volatile, global fossil fuel prices, and mitigate the widespread economic impacts of climate change,” said Carol Werner, executive director of the Environmental and Energy Study Institute (EESI). Werner noted that EESI has identified four general components that would stimulate the economy in the immediate and long term:
1. Extend renewable energy tax credits and make them refundable 2. Provide funding for energy efficiency programs, green jobs, and loan guarantees The U.S. Department of Energy (DOE) has existing authority to provide loan guarantees for the production of new innovative solar energy systems, wind turbines, and other renewable energy technologies. DOE has announced $38.5 billion to be used for loan guarantees; however, $10 billion has been designated for renewable energy and energy efficiency projects, with the remainder reserved for nuclear and “advanced” coal. For a given energy output, renewable energy production has been shown to create more jobs in a shorter amount of time than nuclear or coal. Increasing funding for loan guarantees, shortening the time frame for applications, and carving out more of the funding for renewable energy and energy efficiency projects would contribute greatly to an economic stimulus. 3. Provide funding for farm bill energy programs and conservation agencies Conservation work has long been appreciated for its potential to create jobs and provide important public services simultaneously. The Civilian Conservation Corps was a key component of President Roosevelt's New Deal, and similar programs exist in a number of other nations. There is an opportunity in the current stimulus bill to provide additional funding for the U.S. Forest Service, National Park Service, Wildlife Refuge System and other conservation agencies. This funding would create jobs for wildlife habitat management, restoration forestry, and hazardous fuels reduction. These activities would also generate woody biomass that could be used as a renewable energy feedstock, complementing renewable energy incentives. According to the National Parks Conservation Association (NPCA), there are over $1 billion worth of ready-to-go projects in the national park system this year, which can rapidly produce jobs while also renewing our national heritage and helping to revitalize our national parks for our children and grandchildren. 4. Invest in repair of transportation infrastructure and expansion of transit options Energy efficiency, renewable energy, and public transit projects are proven to create jobs and stimulate economic activity. Investing in these projects also will strengthen the country’s long term economic security by reducing the impacts of climate change on our natural resources, infrastructure, and property, and by positioning America as a leader in the burgeoning global clean energy economy. “We now realize the unprecedented urgency of finding simultaneous solutions to the economic crisis and climate change. Fortunately, the solutions are right in front of us and can be implemented immediately through thoughtful and innovative policies, creating a better deal for all Americans,” Werner said.
Resources: http://www.25x25.org/storage/25x25/documents/EconomicRecovery/economic_recovery_recommendations-12_15_08.pdf (.pdf format)
H.R. 7284 – National Low-Carbon Fuel Standard Act of 2007 H.R. 7290 S. 3709 S. 3725 – Clean Jobs and Infrastructure Act of 2008 S. 3741
EPA Postpones Biomass-Based Diesel RFS Targets The Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) ruled in December that the 2009 Renewable Fuel Standard (RFS), which mandates 11.1 billion gallons of renewable fuels in 2009, will apply only to ethanol and biofuels compatible with gasoline. Although the RFS also calls for the use of 500 million gallons of biomass-based diesel, the regulatory structure is not yet in place to implement this portion of the mandate. The agency is considering boosting the 2010 targets by the 2009 target levels, and allowing any statistics for renewable identification in 2009 to be substituted for 2010 figures. Source: http://www.biodieselmagazine.com/article.jsp?article_id=3030
EPA Releases “Methane to Markets” Report The Environmental Protection Agency has released its third annual Methane to Markets (M2M) partnership report detailing its accomplishments in expanding methane emissions reduction and utilization. The M2M partnership focuses on methane capture projects from agriculture, landfills, coal mines, and oil and gas systems. The partnership has expanded from an initial 14 partner nations to 27 nations, which includes more than 800 project network members. In 2007, the United States provided $10.2 million in funding for projects that are expected to reduce annual emissions by 20 million metric tons of CO2 equivalent when completed. The report estimates that within 10 years the partnership could potentially reduce methane emissions by 180 million metric tons of CO2 equivalent. Sources: http://www.biomassmagazine.com/article.jsp?article_id=2260
DOE Announces Funding for Pilot and Demonstration-Scale Biorefineries On December 22, the U.S. Department of Energy (DOE) announced its intention to provide up to $200 million (subject to appropriations) from FY09-FY14 to support the development of biorefineries producing advanced biofuels, such as butanol, green gasoline, and synthetic diesel made from algae, cellulosic energy crops, wastes, residues, and other biomass feedstocks. The Funding Opportunity Announcement (FOA) specified that funds were reserved for pilot and demonstration-scale facilities. DOE defines pilot facilities as those processing a minimum of one dry ton of feedstock per day, with a minimum non-federal cost-share of 30 percent. Demonstration-scaled facilities are defined as those processing at least 50 dry tons of feedstock per day, with a minimum non-federal cost-share of 50 percent. DOE estimates that it will make 5-12 awards under this announcement, with the intention that facilities will be operational within three to four years of selection. Eligible projects must be located within the United States, must use domestically-produced feedstocks, and must demonstrate significant greenhouse gas reductions (>50 percent) on a lifecycle basis as determined by the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency. Priority will be given to projects likely to lead to commercialization in the near term. This funding announcement comes as part of a $1 billion multi-year commitment that DOE has made for research, development, and demonstration of advanced renewable fuels, to improve energy security and reduce greenhouse gas emissions. Mandatory letters of intent are due by February 20, 2009, and completed applications are due by April 30, 2009. More information, as well as application materials, can be found at www.grants.gov. Source: http://www.energy.gov/news/6817.htm
IRS Issues Guidance for Biodiesel and Cellulosic Biofuel Producer Tax Incentives The Internal Revenue Service has issued new guidance for producers of biodiesel applying for tax credits, following the revision of the American Society of Testing and Materials biodiesel standard ASTM D6751, and for producers of cellulosic ethanol applying for tax credits provided for in the recently enacted “Food, Conservation, and Energy Act of 2008” (P.L. 110-246). To read IRS Notice 2008-110, go to www.irs.gov/pub/irs-drop/n-08-110.pdf Source: http://www.biodieselmagazine.com/article.jsp?article_id=3099
Federal Biomass Board Releases Biofuel Feedstocks Report On December 4, the interagency Biomass Research and Development Board released a report on the economic feasibility of developing both farm- and forest-derived biofuel feedstocks for expansion of the national fuel mix. The report, entitled Feedstock Production for Biofuels: Economic Drivers, Policy Implications, and the Role of Research, looks at the potential impacts of the Renewable Fuel Standard (RFS) on domestic production of biomass feedstocks. Using the 2007 USDA baseline as a reference, the report assesses which feedstocks are most likely to be used to satisfy the RFS mandate. Additional scenarios are compared in which corn productivity and input costs (fuel, fertilizer) vary. For each scenario, regional supply curves were generated and used to determine the most likely location for feedstock production as well as the most likely feedstocks, including corn, agricultural residues, cellulosic energy crops, and woody biomass. The report uses this information to determine likely consequences for land use change, greenhouse gas emissions, and sustainability, as well as to identify the most pressing research priorities to facilitate the RFS. Sources: http://www.usda.gov/wps/portal/!ut/p/_s.7_0_A/7_0_1OB?contentidonly=true&contentid=2008/12/0304.xml
President Obama Announces Nominees for Key Energy and Environment Posts President Obama’s nominees for key energy and environmental posts reflect his strong commitment to address pressing climate and energy issues in his first term, including advancing the development of next generation biofuels. Carol Browner, former head of the EPA during the Clinton administration, is Obama’s pick to serve in a new White House post coordinating U.S. climate and energy policy. Obama named Lisa Jackson, current commissioner for the New Jersey Department of Environmental Protection, to head the Environmental Protection Agency. She will have a key role to play implementing regulations governing greenhouse gas emissions, the renewable fuel standard (RFS), and air and water quality. Obama nominated Steven Chu to be Energy Secretary. Dr. Chu, a Nobel Prize- winning physicist and head of the Lawrence Berkeley National Laboratory at Berkeley, CA, has been a strong proponent for accelerating development and deployment of new energy technologies to reduce greenhouse gas emissions, including the development of advanced biofuels. Obama nominated Tom Vilsack to be Agriculture Secretary. As governor of Iowa, Vilsack was a strong proponent of developing renewable energy, including the biofuels industry. During the recent electoral campaign season, he called for a strong cap and trade program to address global climate change. At USDA, he will have responsibility for implementing the many new biomass energy provisions in the recently passed farm bill. The president-elect tapped Senator Ken Salazar (D-CO), for Interior Secretary. Salazar formerly served as head of Colorado’s Department of Natural Resources. In the Senate, he has a strong record advocating for better stewardship of public lands, improved energy efficiency, and accelerated development of renewable energy resources. At Interior, he will be responsible for managing millions of acres of public lands, which, among many important values, contain significant potential for the development of sustainable biomass and other renewable energy resources. Completing the top ranks of the energy and environment team, Obama named Nancy Sutley, currently deputy mayor for environment and energy for the City of Los Angeles, to head the White House Office of Environmental Quality. Sources: http://www.reuters.com/article/newsOne/idUSTRE4B970320081210
Study Evaluates Biodiesel Produced from Coffee Grounds A recently released study details the possibility of using spent coffee grounds as a feedstock for biodiesel. Spent coffee grounds contain between 11-20 percent oil by weight, which is similar to current biodiesel feedstocks such as rapeseed, palm, and soybean oil. However, because coffee grounds are a waste product, no additional land or agricultural resources would be needed to produce this feedstock, which reduce its costs and environmental impacts. The authors of the study used coffee grounds, separated the oil, and produced biodiesel using the same processes currently utilized. However, the biodiesel from the coffee grounds was found to be more stable and longer lasting than traditional biodiesel because of coffee’s high antioxidant content. The study estimates that coffee growers produce more than 16 billion pounds of coffee annually which could potentially produce 340 million gallons of biodiesel. They also estimate that this could produce a profit of more than $8 million in the United States alone. In addition to biodiesel, the leftover solid material could potentially be converted to ethanol, fuel pellets, or used as soil compost. Source: http://www.sciencedaily.com/releases/2008/12/081210171900.htm
Modified Lignin Has Potential Benefits for Ethanol, Paper, and Feed University of Wisconsin-Madison scientists, in partnership with USDA Agricultural Research Service (ARS), have synthesized a new form of lignin that breaks down more readily than that which occurs in nature. Lignin is the mortar that holds cellulose (the thick, undigestable portion of plant cell walls) together; the fact that it is so difficult to breakdown has been a major hurdle for cellulosic ethanol producers, paper companies, and livestock feed producers. However, the researchers found that introducing other molecules into the lignin helps the material breaks down more quickly in an alkaline environment. The researchers are developing a way to incorporate the new lignin into plant life. This has the potential to make it much less expensive to produce next generation, advanced biofuels, and it could benefit the paper and cattle industries as well. Source: http://www.ars.usda.gov/is/pr/2008/081209.htm
Scientists Seek to Turn Waste Glycerol into High-Value Gas The Taipei Times reports that scientists from the Universities of Leeds and Cardiff in the UK are exploring ways to convert glycerol, a ubiquitous waste-product of biodiesel production, into high-value hydrogen gas and carbon dioxide. The 6.8 billion gallons of ethanol produced in Europe this year has created a glut of almost 680,000 tons of glycerol, a thick, viscous, sweet-tasting fluid that is used in everything from fragrances to fertilizers. Much of the excess glycerol is currently incinerated. However, there may be a much more valuable use for this waste material: conversion to hydrogen gas. “Since glycerol has a high hydrogen content compared to methane, we reckon that converting crude glycerol to hydrogen is a valid alternative route to producing it from electrolysis or methane,” says Valerie Dupont of the University of Leeds. The hydrogen could be used for heat, fertilizer, or fuel cells. “Our process is a clean, renewable alternative to conventional methods. It produces something with high value from a low grade by-product,” Dupont says, “In addition, it’s a near carbon-neutral process, since the CO2 generated is not derived from the use of fossil fuels.” Another group, led by Graham Hutchings of Cardiff University, is seeking alternative uses for glycerol and glycerol-derived hydrogen, testing everything from fragrances and biodegradable plastics to improved fertilizer. “We’re looking for things that have real application,” Hutchings says. Source: http://www.taipeitimes.com/News/editorials/archives/2008/12/10/2003430779
Researchers Find Ways to Boost Soil Carbon While Harvesting Corn Stover Researchers at Michigan State University have conducted a study evaluating different methods to maintain soil carbon when corn stover is harvested for bioenergy production. The study, published in the November-December issue of Agronomy Journal, found that carbon augmentation practices such as cover crops, manure, and no-till planting methods can increase short-term carbon sequestration rates in soils. In addition to soil carbon, researchers measured other emissions, such as nitrous oxide and methane emissions from field plots and emissions from crop inputs and manure. "These results show that bioenergy cropping systems, particularly those integrating livestock manure into their management scheme, are a win-win option on both alternative energy and environmental fronts," says Kurt Thelen, member of the research team. The study concludes that cellulosic ethanol production may eventually develop to the point where there are improved soil carbon levels, increased water retention, and a net removal of carbon dioxide from the atmosphere. Sources: https://www.agronomy.org/press/releases/2008/1201/223/
NASA Research Uses Satellite Imagery to Probe Land Use Change On December 19, at the fall meeting of the American Geophysical Union, researchers with NASA’s Ames Research Center outlined an upcoming research project intended to explore the interactions between energy crop production and land use change in the Midwest. The project will utilize satellite imagery to monitor changes in land cover, assess agricultural productivity, and measure above- and below-ground carbon pools. This approach allows data to be collected more consistently and at a finer resolution than using reported county-by-county statistics. The research will identify where dedicated energy crops, such as perennial grasses or short rotation trees, are being produced and whether they are being grown at the expense of conventional crops or else by bringing idle and marginal lands back into production. By assessing trends in cropland carbon pools, researchers will also be able to determine the effects on soils of crop choices, management practices, and the collection of field residues, such as corn stover and wheat straw. This information will shed light on some of the most contentious issues surrounding biofuels and bioenergy, including the food vs. fuel debate, the effects of land use change, and the sustainability of utilizing field residues. Results from the study will also be useful in making land allocation decisions, improving management practices, and determining optimal harvest levels to maintain soil productivity. According to Christopher Potter, one of the lead investigators, “We are trying to use this data in a way that would benefit the environmental community and the growing community…We are pretty confident we can use these satellite records to help improve public policy and help improve industry decisions.” Source: http://www.ethanolproducer.com/article.jsp?article_id=5191
New Mapping Tool Models Nutrient Pools in Forests Harvested for Biomass Utilizing logging residues, brush, slash, and thinning materials from forests can provide a renewable source of low carbon energy and help improve forest structure, but excessive biomass harvesting also has potential to reduce forest nutrient pools and degrade soils. An important area of research is in determining exactly how biomass removals impact forest nutrient pools, and identifying how much and what types of woody biomass can be safely removed. Paul Arp, at the University of New Brunswick, has created a high-resolution, geographic information system (GIS) mapping tool that can be used to identify allowable harvest levels in individual stands or groupings of trees. Using this model, Arp has found a striking variability in the allowable harvest levels among different stands, as well as when and how they should be harvested. For example, biomass harvests should be avoided in stands located near shallow water tables or in certain hardwood stands in the growing season, when nutrients are concentrated above-ground in green leaves. In other stands, varying amounts of biomass can be removed without damaging long-term nutrient pools. This tool is currently valid only for public forests in portions of New Brunswick, but similar models could be refined to guide harvest decisions and estimate biomass resources across much of Canada and the United States. Source: http://nbbusinessjournal.canadaeast.com/journal/article/517926
Study Shows Bioenergy Could Become Major Energy Source in 2030 The potential for bioenergy is inherently limited by the amount of biomass that can be produced sustainably without impacting food supplies, degrading farm land, or destroying pristine ecosystems. In order to explore this potential, two German scientists investigated the feasibility of replacing fossil fuels with biomass as the primary energy supply. Their paper, published in the journal Naturwissenschaften, posited a scenario in which degraded lands were planted with fast growing trees, which were then harvested, converted via fast pyrolysis into a liquid bioslurry, and transported similarly to petroleum. This bioslurry could then be refined into transportation fuels and biobased chemicals, or used in the production of heat and power. By relying on degraded and non-productive land, this scenario avoids concerns regarding deforestation or competition with food production. According to the authors, “A high percentage of these degraded areas should be available and suited for afforestation…To combat ongoing desertification and to improve the fertility of soils, it would be in the objective interest of the respective countries, of the local population, and in the general interest of mankind to afforest these degraded areas and to use the biomass continuously for the production of the necessary energy, fuel, materials, and chemicals of the respective country and, if possible, for export.” The study found that biomass produced in this manner could fully replace fossil and nuclear energy in 2030, using demand as forecast by the International Energy Agency (IEA). Furthermore, this source of energy would be cost effective (on par with coal and cheaper than nuclear) and have a number of secondary ecosystem benefits, including habitat improvement, soil conservation, and water quality improvement. Sources: http://cordis.europa.eu/fetch?CALLER=EN_NEWS&ACTION=D&SESSION=&RCN=30253
Stanford Scientist Finds Biofuels to be Less Promising than Wind and Solar Stanford Professor Mark Z. Jacobson has released a report purported evaluating the major renewable and alternative energy solutions currently being seriously entertained. Jacobson, a professor of civil and environmental engineering at Stanford University, compared the various solutions across a number of criteria, including deliverability, climate impacts, energy security, human health, impacts on water resources, reliability, impacts on wildlife habitat, and overall sustainability. According to Jacobson’s results, many of the most popular alternative energy technologies are neither the cleanest nor most promising. Wind and solar, for example, came out significantly better in this analysis than nuclear, coal carbon-capture-and-sequestration (CCS), and especially biofuels. According to Jacobson, “Ethanol-based biofuels will actually cause more harm to human health, wildlife, water supply, and land use than current fossil fuels.” Cellulosic biofuels performed even more poorly than conventional corn-based ethanol, based on estimated impacts to wildlife, land use, and air pollution. This is a particularly surprising conclusion. Most scientists and environmental organizations feel strongly that cellulosic biofuels promise to be cleaner, greener, and more sustainable than starch-based fuels. Source: http://www.sciencedaily.com/releases/2008/12/081210171908.htm
University of Minnesota Releases Two Woody Biomass Reports The College of Food, Agriculture and Natural Resources Science at the University of Minnesota at Saint Paul has released two new reports regarding the use of wood biomass as a renewable energy source. The first report, Staff Paper Series No. 198: Assessment of Carbon Flows Associated with Forest Management and Biomass Procurement for the Laskin Biomass Facility, is a case study life-cycle assessment (LCA) of the climate impacts of one particular plant, a 26 MW biopower facility. According to the assessment, this facility will require 145,652 dry tons of logging residues annually and will emit 27.757 million tons CO2eq of greenhouse gases over 100 years. If that same material were instead allowed to decompose in the woods, it would emit 22.710 million tons CO2eq over the same time frame. Although using the biomass for energy results in an additional 5.047 million tons CO2eq compared to leaving it in the woods, this number does not yet take into account the emissions saved by substituting renewable biomass for fossil fuels. The second report, Staff Paper Series No. 199: State Woody Biomass Utilization Policies, is a comprehensive compendium of state policies that affect the production of wood-based energy and products, as well as the harvesting, storage, and transportation of woody biomass. According to lead author Dennis Becker, “A range of policy approaches are relevant to woody biomass whether they are transportation related or have to do with state procurement policies, cost-share programs for equipment, or incentivizing consumer markets. The national database of State Woody Biomass Utilization Policies identifies the different policies enacted for each state in the country and organizes them by type of policy approach. The database allows users to compare tax incentive programs, consider different granting initiatives, and how rules and regulations are worded to incentivize the utilization of woody biomass.” Sources: http://www.timberbuysell.com/Community/DisplayNews.asp?id=3930 Diverse Crops Better for Sustainable Biofuel Production Shifting more acreage to corn production may not be the best way to meet increasing renewable fuel production requirements, researchers at Michigan State University and the Great Lakes Bioenergy Research Center are finding. Growing a variety of different crops is key to promoting and sustaining beneficial insects, limiting harmful pests, and reducing pesticide costs and crop damage. From 2006 to 2007, corn acreage increased 19 percent. The researchers found that by increasing corn acreage, fewer beneficial insects were available to control pests. Natural biological pest control services were lost. The research team estimates the value of these lost services across the four-state region studied to be about $58 million. The findings point toward developing more ecologically diverse biomass feedstocks for energy production. Sources: http://news.msu.edu/story/5770/
New Crop Modeling Tool for Predicting Sorghum Production Researchers at Texas A&M have developed a new modeling tool to help prospective biofuel producers better estimate sorghum crop yield potential in a given region under various conditions. Biofuel plant operators need to be able to assess whether a region can supply adequate feedstock production and under what conditions. The model incorporates weather, soil, and management factors, including how adjusting inputs such as fertilizer and irrigation can affect crop yields and soil nutrient levels. Sources: http://agnews.tamu.edu/phpscript/printpage.php?curpage=%2Fshowstory.php%3Fid%3D896
A new trailer for hauling woodchips has been designed to allow for more effective and efficient biomass harvesting. The design, called the stinger-steered chip trailer, is essentially a logging trailer combined with an ordinary cargo container. This new trailer can make sharper turns to navigate into tighter spots allowing for new locations to be reached. "The traditional chip van has more volume, but can't get in the same locations," said Dave Haston, who presented the new trailer. "This trailer is a better alternative than constructing or reconstructing forest roads. It has the same access as a logging truck." It is hoped that this new trailer will bring in new income streams for private woodlands owners and for more economical hazardous fuel treatments to prevent wildfires. Source: http://www.capitalpress.info/main.asp?SectionID=67&SubSectionID=782&ArticleID=46538&TM=45413.82
UK Report Released Advocating Waste-to-Energy A new report has been released by the UK Institution of Mechanical Engineers advocating for increased utilization of waste-to-energy conversion technologies. The report calls for waste-to-energy to be regarded as an energy source instead of a waste management treatment. The report also states that in some cases recycling materials such as waste paper may consume more energy and resources than utilizing those materials for energy and creating new products. Recycling may not be the best option if there is little or no market for the material. Also, in many cases recyclables are transported overseas to countries like China where it is unknown how the material is being used. The report does say that recycling remains the top method for processing metal and glass waste because these materials cannot be easily converted into energy. In addition to generating electricity, the report also advocates for the use of combined heat and power for space heating. Sources: http://www.cleantech.com/news/3948/report-calls-recycling-waste-energy
Forest Guild Report Identifies Opportunities for Consulting Foresters in Community Wood Energy The Forest Guild’s Nov. 26 report, A Market-Based Approach to Community Wood Energy: An Opportunity for Consulting Foresters, identifies the positive effects of a locally-based community wood energy program and describes a market-based model in which local consulting foresters serve as the bridge between users and producers of woody biomass in the community. The report is based on experience gained from the community wood energy pilot projects in Bristol, Vermont and the Mahoosuc Region of Maine and New Hampshire, as well as from discussions with Forest Guild members. It identifies roles for local foresters and administrators in designing and reaching the SELF (Sustainable, Efficient, Local, and Fair) goal for community wood energy. Source: http://www.timberbuysell.com/Community/DisplayNews.asp?id=3928
Apollo Alliance Releases Economic Investment Strategy The Apollo Alliance, a coalition of business, labor, environmental and community leaders dedicated to promoting a clean energy revolution, has released a new, green economic investment plan entitled The New Apollo Program. The Alliance urges aggressive investment in renewable energy, including bioenergy. It recommends investing in low carbon fuels infrastructure, such as expanding the number of filling stations that sell E85 biofuel. It recommends that Congress fully fund incentives for the first 250 million gallons of cellulosic ethanol or biodiesel produced each year through 2013 as established in the 2005 energy bill. The report cites the Department of Energy in stating that for every 10 billion gallons of ethanol produced there are 100,000 – 200,000 jobs created. Source: http://apolloalliance.org/apollo-14/the-full-report/
Company Introduces Dedicated Energy Crop Seeds California-based crop company Ceres Inc. has introduced two varieties each of switchgrass and high-biomass sorghum specifically designed to boost energy crop yields. The seeds have come out of development and will be shipping under the Blade Energy Crops label to farms as early as January, ahead of the spring planting season, said Anna Rath, Ceres’ Vice President of commercial development. The United States has an strong portfolio of renewable fuels policies, including the renewable fuels standard (rfs) which mandates the blending of 36 billion gallons of renewable fuels into the national fuel supply by 2022. According to Rath, It seems increasingly likely that neither corn ethanol nor cellulosic wastes and residues will be adequate to reach this goal in the short term, thus necessitating the development of alternative energy crops. “These dedicated energy crops are a critical element of the industry reaching scale, commercially relevant scale,” Rath said. “Now that piece of the puzzle is here.” Of the seeds, one switchgrass variety is optimized for southern climates, the other for northern climates. The sorghum is designed to not produce grain heads (and therefore stop growing) until early autumn, producing maximum growth before harvest. Early buyers of the seeds include DOE-backed biofuels companies building demonstration cellulosic ethanol refineries as well as forward-thinking farmers seeking a toehold in an emerging market. It is expected that spreading the production base of cellulosic feedstocks will place crops closer to their constituent refineries, thus cutting transport and storage costs and making cellulosic ethanol cost-competitive versus other fuels. Source: http://www.aberdeennews.com/apps/pbcs.dll/article?AID=/20081219/FARMFORUM/812190314/-1/FARMFORUM01 Coal-to-Liquid Fuel Plant Moves Ahead in Ohio: Will It Live Up to the “Clean” Hype? The Springfield News-Sun (OH) reports that Baard Energy of Vancouver, WA, has received the permits it needs to move ahead with plans to build a new plant in Wellsville, OH, that will turn coal and biomass into liquid jet and diesel fuels. The new plant is expected to produce about 53,000 barrels of liquid fuel per day from locally mined coal and biomass. The plant is expected to consume about 7 million tons of coal per year, a third more than Ohio’s current coal production. Baard says the plant will capture 85 percent of the carbon emissions. The captured CO2 will be turned into liquid which will then be injected underground into aging oil fields to increase oil production. A 2007 report from the Idaho National Energy Lab (INL) says that the plant would use 30 percent biomass from wood wastes. A carbon life-cycle analysis conducted by INL estimates that, using the Baard system (including biomass as 30 percent of the feedstock, gasification technology, and 85 percent carbon capture and sequestration), carbon emissions will be reduced about 46 percent compared to conventional low-sulfur diesel fuel made from petroleum. Other harmful air pollutants (SOx, NOx, VOCs, CO) would also be reduced significantly in the combustion cycle of this cleaner synthetic fuel. A 46 percent reduction in life-cycle carbon emissions below conventional petroleum-based fuels compares quite favorably to the average life-cycle emissions reduction from corn-based ethanol, but advanced biofuels made from cellulosic feedstocks promise to be even better for the climate – and without the significant additional environmental harms associated with coal mining. Further, the Natural Resources Defense Council claims Baard’s permit applications and contracts indicate that, in fact, the firm does not intend to use biomass feedstock for at least the first decade of production and does not plan to capture and store the emissions in the short-term. If this is the case, then the life cycle carbon costs of the Baard project will be more than doubly polluting compared to producing conventional fuel from petroleum. Sources: http://www.springfieldnewssun.com/hp/content/oh/story/news/local/2008/12/21/sns122108biofuelinside.html
UN Climate Conference in Poznan: Sustainable Biomass Issues Discussed Approximately 11,000 participants from more than 190 countries gathered in Poznan, Poland, December 1-13, for the 14th Conference of Parties to the UN Framework Convention on Climate Change. The purpose of the meeting was to continue negotiations and planning toward a new international agreement to address climate change. The parties agreed to complete a first draft of the treaty by June 2009 and resolved to complete work on the treaty by December 2009, when the parties will convene again in Copenhagen, Denmark. Sources: http://www.eesi.org/ccn_121908
Harvesting Clean Energy Conference IX (Jan. 25-27) Billings, MT http://www.regonline.com/Checkin.asp?EventId=649740 Woody Biomass Workshop (Jan. 28) Live Oak, FL http://www.sfrc.ufl.edu/Extension/florida_forestry_information/ (.pdf format) Algae Commercialism, Research, and Business Network Forum (Jan. 29-30) Houston, TX http://www.businesswire.com/portal/site/google/?ndmViewId=news_view National Biodiesel Conference & Expo (Feb. 1-4) San Francisco, CA http://www.biodieselconference.org/2009/ ICAO Workshop: Aviation and Alternative Fuels (Feb. 10-12) Montreal, Canada http://www.icao.int/WAAF2009/ BioPower Generation 2009 (Feb. 12-13) Brussels, Belgium http://www.greenpowerconferences.com/biofuelsmarkets/biopower.html RFA National Ethanol Conference (Feb. 23-25) San Antonio, TX http://www.ethanolrfa.org/industry/conference/ RETECH 2009: Renewable Energy Technology (Feb. 25-27) Las Vegas, NV http://www.retech2009.com/ Renewable Energy World Conference & Expo North America (Mar. 10-12) Las Vegas, NV http://rewna09.events.pennnet.com/fl/index.cfm World Biofuels Markets Congress & Exhibition (Mar. 16-19) Brussels, Belgium http://www.worldbiofuelsmarkets.com/ Biomass 2009: Fueling Our Future (Mar. 17-18) National Harbor, MD http://biomass2009.com/
Writers: Jesse Caputo, Ned Stowe, Justin Mattingly, and James Hacker
Please distribute BCO to your colleagues or send us their e-mail addresses and we will add them to our distribution list. Article and commentary submissions are encouraged and should be sent via email.
Environmental and Energy Study Institute
Please visit us at www.eesi.org The Environmental and Energy Study Institute (EESI) is a non-profit organization that works at the nexus of policy and innovation to promote environmentally sustainable societies. EESI was founded in 1984 by a bipartisan group of Congressional Members dedicated to finding environmental and energy solutions. EESI provides credible, timely information and innovative policy ideas through coalition building, media outreach, publications, briefings, workshops and task forces on the issues of energy efficiency and renewable energy, transportation, smart growth, agriculture and global climate change. Carol Werner leads the EESI team as executive director.
BCO is a free newsletter. EESI's valuable work in energy, climate change, agriculture, transportation and smart growth are made possible through financial support from people like you. Please donate now. Your tax-deductible contribution will help EESI develop innovative policy solutions for a cleaner, safer, healthier world. EIN: 52-1268030. For more information, visit www.eesi.org or contact Ruth Lampi at rlampi [at] eesi.org or (202) 662-1887. |
Printer-friendly version