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BIOFUELS

Rob Bennett Neil FydaKathleen Harvey James HoffmanTiffany Ware John Wedig

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What are Biofuels?

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Biofuel Uses

Automotive Aviation Process Heating Power Generation District Heating

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Local Production

Many types of plant biomass can be rendered to produce fuel.

Plants can be chosen to grow in a region that best suits them, while the end result is the same fuel. No engine modifications necessary between

the fuel from the different plants. Stimulate economies of many regions.

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Carbon Net Neutrality

Plants use the carbon in CO2 while growing.

Burning a biofuel releases this carbon atom, but it is re-stored into the next biofuel plant.

Result is no new carbon into the atmosphere. Fallacy is fossil fuels used

during biofuel production.

IMPACT OF BIOFUELSTiffany Ware

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Schematic of Impacts

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GHG Emission

Agricultural vs Process Production Direct and indirect impacts may be higher than

the same product produced from fossil fuels Vary widely, depending on

feedstock, technology considered and boundary condition assumed

Co-generation of other products may lead to improved performance intensive agricultural production and conversion of

natural land to cropland may lead to negative results Second-generation biofuels also show positive

results if produced from waste or residues or from wood

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GHG Emissions

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Land

Biofuel GHG emissions and energy less only when no land use change is considered

Demand for fuel crops has increased the need for expansion of crop land Destruction of natural habitats Decrease in biodiversity

Regional difference, clearing of rainforest or other areas with high carbon storage value can have significant influence

Largest limiting factors for biomass production

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Land

Plans for fuel crop production driven by targets rather than land use planning negatively impacts developing countries

Palm Oil for Biodiesel mainly used for cooking/cooking products Malaysia and Indonesia = 95% ↑ production for

biodiesel/plants supported by foreign countries The Amazon

Total arable land of Brazil currently ~ 60 Mha. An additional 60 Mha of land could potentially

come into agricultural production, if no gov’t regulation

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Water

Energy from biomass = 70 to 400X more water than from other energy carriers ex fossil fuels, wind and solar

Eutrophication can lead to serious problems with water quality and the surrounding ecosystems nitrogen fertilizers speeds up nitrogen cycle releases harmful N2O into the environment N2O emissions source hard to trace

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BIOFUEL: NATIONAL POLICIES

REASONS FOR NATIONAL POLICIES

•Reduce dependence on imported oil

•Promote energy security

•Decrease emissions of greenhouse gases

FOUR MAJOR LEGISLATIVE POLICIES

•Farm Security and Rural Investment Act of 2002•The Energy Policy Act of 2005•Energy Independence and Security Act of 2007•Food, Conservation, and Energy Act of 2008

FARM SECURITY AND RURAL INVESTMENT ACT OF 2002•Appropriated $16.5 billion

annually for funding agricultural subsidies

-Meant to focus on funding agriculture, ecology, energy, trade, and nutrition initiatives-Benefited producers of grains, upland cotton, and oilseeds

THE ENERGY POLICY ACT OF 2005•Provided tax incentives and loan guarantees for various types of renewable energy and biofuel producers•Attempted to reduce U.S. dependence on foreign oil•Attempted to compensate for the increased use of energy by the U.S. population

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The Energy Policy Act of 2005

This Act also required increases in the amount of biofuels that must be mixed with gasoline in the United States. Four Billion U.S. gallons by 2006 6.1 billion U.S. by 2009 7.5 U.S. gallons by 2012 the Energy Independence and Security Act of

2007 extended the target to 36 billion U.S. gallons by 2022

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Energy Independence and Security Act of 2007

Required the following, “Significantly increased volumes of renewable

fuel production Restricts the types of feedstocks that can be

used to make renewable fuels and the types of land that can be used to grow feedstocks.

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Food, Conservation, and Energy Act of 2008

Appropriated $288 billion for a five-year agricultural subsidy that funds companies and groups pursuing initiatives such as energy, nutrition, conservation and rural development

This act supported initiatives including: Agricultural Research Food Stamp Benefits Increased support of the production of cellulosic

ethanol

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Biofuel Policies in the Upper Midwest

Policies supporting biofuels since the 1970s

Strong agricultural base Largest source of ethanol in the U.S. 35% of the nation’s production capacity

in Iowa, Minnesota, and Wisconsin

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Monthly U.S. Ethanol Production

*Taken from the Agricultural Marketing Resource Center http://www.agmrc.org/renewable_energy/ethanol/us_ethanol_production_imports_and_stocks.cfm

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Wisconsin

Ethanol and Biodiesel Fuel Pump Income Tax Credit 25% or up to $5000 to install purveyors

Goals to reduce petroleum consumption 20% by 2010 and 50% by 2015

Ethanol production tax credit Executive Order from the governor

Requires 25% renewable fuels for power and transportation by 2025

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Minnesota

First state to mandate that all gasoline have 10% ethanol will increase to 20% in 2013

Blenders’ credit 4 cents per gallon for blenders that put at least 10% ethanol into gas

Goal of having 25% of ethanol supplies come from cellulosic feedstocks by 2015

Biodiesel mandate currently 5% First state to do so

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Iowa

Produces about 25% of the ethanol in the U.S.

Enterprise Zone and High-Quality Job Creation Programs tax credits to ethanol plants

Renewable Fuels Standard began in 2009 10% of gasoline sales must come from

renewable sources Will increase to 25% in 2021

Ethanol Promotion Tax Credit for E100

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Advanced Biofuel Policies

Biofuels adverse environmental impacts and competes with food production

Advanced biofuels gaining support High levels of lignin or cellulose

E.g. trees, shrubs, grasses Most programs are federal Reinvest in Minnesota converts

agricultural land into cellulosic crop land

RECOMMENDATIONS

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Policy Making Recommendations

Lots of new federal and state policies developing quickly

Example of Range Fuels Received a $76 million dollar loan from

Congress in 2007 to produce cellulosic ethanol Went bankrupt in 2011 and never created an

operational plant

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Future U.S. Biofuel Production

Shift away from food-based biofuels Congress repealed

$6 billion dollars per year in tax credits for ethanol in June 2011

Focus on second-generation biofuels Energy

Independence and Security Act of 2007

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Ethical Considerations

Nuffield Council on Bioethics1. Biofuel development should not supersede a

person’s basic rights to food, land, or water2. The biofuel should be environmentally

sustainable3. Biofuels should help reduce greenhouse

gasses 4. The economic aspect of biofuels should

reflect fair trade principles5. The costs and benefits of biofuels should be

fairly distributed

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Ethical Considerations

Sixth ethical consideration—we have a duty to develop biofuels if they meet the first five guidelines

Future policy should reflect this duty

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In Summary

Biofuels are an option – not necessarily a prepackage solution.

Negative impacts must be monitored via effective policy. Land degradation, water

usage, food shortage

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In Summary Cont.

Current policies are in place to promote biofuel research and production Require careful review and maintenance to

avoid another Range Fuels incident Policies should prevent or limit use of

overly unsustainable biofuel crops. Can not be considered renewable if

unsustainable Effective policy making and maintenance

will ensure a bright future for biofuels.

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Works CitedStefan Bringezu, Helmut Schutz, Meghan O´Brien, Lea Kauppi, Robert W. Howarth, Jeff McNeely, Martina Otto. “Assessing Biofuels” UNEP, (2009): 16, 68 “Biofuel.” Merriam-Webster Dictionary. Web Radich, Anthony. “Biodiesel Performance, Costs, and Use”, US DOE n.d. Nov. 13, 2011 http://www.eia.gov/oiaf/analysispaper/biodiesel/ Wright, Liz. “Green Hornet to take Flight on Earth Day”, US Navy, Mar. 30, 2010, <http://www.navy.mil/search/display.asp?story_id=52291> Chisti, Yusuf. “Biodiesel from microalgae.” Biotechnology Advances 25.3 (2007) : 294-306.  “Biofuels.” REOC, n.d. Web. Nov. 13, 2011 <www.reoc.info/biofuels> 109th Congress, . United States . Congress. Public Law 109-58. 2005. Web. <http://doi.net/iepa/EnergyPolicyActof2005.pdf>. Freeman, Weldon. “USDA Approves first ever guaranteed loan for commercial-scale cellulosic ethanol plant.” USDA.gov. USDA, 16 Jan 2009. Web. 13 Nov 2011. <http://www.usda.gov/wps/portal/usda/usdahome?contentidonly=true&contentid=2009/01/0024.xml>. “Funding for farmers is a tough row to hoe: the Farm Security and Rural Investment Act.” CBS Business Network Resource Library. Spring.2003 (2003): 1-5. Print. Koshel, Patricia, and Kathleen McAllister. Expanding Biofuel Production and the Transition to Advanced Biofuels. 1st ed. Washington, D.C.: National Academies Press, 2010. Print. Elcock, Deborah. “Future U.S. Water Consumption: The Role Of Energy Production.” Journal Of The American Water Resources Association 46.3 (2010): 447-460. 13 Nov. 2011. “Fiscal Sobriety”. The Economist. June 23, 2011. <http://www.economist.com/node/18867278>. Tait, Joyce. "Shaping An Ethical Future For Biofuels." Bioscience 61.9 (2011): 653-654. 13 Nov. 2011. "The Range Fuels Fiasco." Wall Street Journal - Eastern Edition 10 Feb. 2011: A18. 13 Nov. 2011. <http://online.wsj.com/article/SB1000142405274870436400457613245370100 4530.html>.