|
March 7 César Izaurralde, Joint Global Change Research Institute (JGCRI), Pacific Northwest National Laboratory and University of Maryland "Current Trends in U.S. Ethanol Production and Development of a Sustainable Bioenergy Economy" Biofuel production has expanded dramatically in the U.S. in recent years, particularly in the area of distilling corn grain into ethanol. Industry touts ethanol as a environmentally friendly fuel that boosts rural economies and brings us closer to energy independence. Others have expressed concern about dramatic changes in land use. Recent policy initiatives set production targets for ethanol production that will require large changes in the industry in terms of crop choice and production technology. In this presentation we will first discuss recent trends in U.S. ethanol production and land use. From here, we will explore biofuels from the context of sustainability and discuss ways in which environmental, economic, and social sustainability can be understood and assessed in U.S. biofuel production. This includes an amalgamation of life cycle energy analysis, ecosystem service accounting, analysis of biogeochemical cycling, and economic assessment on multiple geographic scales. The ultimate goal is to understand both the environmental and socio-economic impacts of biofuel production strategies and use this to inform policy makers such that biofuels can be produced sustainably. |