Renewable Fuel Standard: Potential Economic and Environmental Effects of U.S. Biofuel Policy

National Research Council

doi:10.17226/13105

Renewable Fuel Standard:Potential Economic and Environmental Effects of U.S. Biofuel Policy (2011)

Consensus Study Report

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Renewable Fuel Standard

Potential Economic and Environmental Effects of U.S. Biofuel Policy(2011)

Consensus Study Report

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Overview

Contributors

National Research Council; Division on Earth and Life Studies; Division on Engineering and Physical Sciences; Board on Agriculture and Natural Resources; Board on Energy and Environmental Systems; Committee on Economic and Environmental Impacts of Increasing Biofuels Production

Description

In the United States, we have come to depend on plentiful and inexpensive energy to support our economy and lifestyles. In recent years, many questions have been raised regarding the sustainability of our current pattern of high consumption of nonrenewable energy and its environmental consequences. Further, because the United States imports about 55 percent of the nation's consumption of crude oil, there are additional concerns about the security of supply. Hence, efforts are being made to find alternatives to our current pathway, including greater energy efficiency and use of energy sources that could lower greenhouse gas (GHG) emissions such as nuclear and renewable sources, including solar, wind, geothermal, and biofuels. The United States has a long history with biofuels and the nation is on a course charted to achieve a substantial increase in biofuels.

Renewable Fuel Standard evaluates the economic and environmental consequences of increasing biofuels production as a result of Renewable Fuels Standard, as amended by EISA (RFS2). The report describes biofuels produced in 2010 and those projected to be produced and consumed by 2022, reviews model projections and other estimates of the relative impact on the prices of land, and discusses the potential environmental harm and benefits of biofuels production and the barriers to achieving the RFS2 consumption mandate.

Policy makers, investors, leaders in the transportation sector, and others with concerns for the environment, economy, and energy security can rely on the recommendations provided in this report.

Topics

Suggested Citation

National Research Council. 2011. Renewable Fuel Standard: Potential Economic and Environmental Effects of U.S. Biofuel Policy. Washington, DC: The National Academies Press.https://doi.org/10.17226/13105.

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Publication Info

416 pages |7 x 10
ISBNs:

Paperback: 978-0-309-18751-0
Ebook: 978-0-309-27878-2

DOI: https://doi.org/10.17226/13105

RESOURCES AT A GLANCE

Briefing Presentation

Contents

Table of Contents	skim chapter
Front Matter	i-xxii
Summary	1-12
1 Introduction	13-28
2 Biofuel Supply Chain	29-78
3 Projected Supply of Cellulosic Biomass	79-104
4 The Economics and Economic Effects of Biofuel Production	105-180
5 Environmental Effects and Tradeoffs of Biofuels	181-262
6 Barriers to Achieving RFS2	263-286
APPENDIXES	287-288
Appendix A: Statement of Task	289-290
Appendix B: Biographical Sketches	291-296
Appendix C: Presentations to the Committee	297-300
Appendix D: Glossary	301-302
Appendix E: Select Acronyms and Abbreviations	303-306
Appendix F: Conversion Factors	307-308
Appendix G: Petroleum-Based Fuel Economics	309-316
Appendix H: Ethanol Biorefineries in Operation or Under Construction in the United States in 2010	317-328
Appendix I: Biodiesel Refineries in the United States in 2010	329-336
Appendix J: Economic Models Used to Assess the Effects of Biofuel Production in the United States	337-340
Appendix K: BioBreak Model: Assumptions for Willingness to Accept	341-350
Appendix L: BioBreak Model Assumptions	351-354
Appendix M: Summary of Literature Estimates	355-382
Appendix N: Blend Wall	383-390
Appendix O: Safety and Quality of Biofuel Coproducts as Animal Feed	391-394

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