Appendix A
Workshop Agenda
Expanding Biofuel Production: Sustainability and the Transition to Advanced Biofuels
Lessons from the Upper Midwest for Sustainability
Date: June 23-24, 2009
Location: The Lussier Family Heritage Center
3101 Lake Farm Rd., Madison, WI 53711
Workshop Objectives:
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Create an opportunity for dialogue between researchers and policy makers on the sustainability impacts of expanding biofuel production at a state/regional level.
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Explore the lessons that can be learned from the experience with corn-based ethanol and the likely impacts of advanced biofuels.
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Identify biofuel-related policy objectives and challenges facing state officials.
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Provide examples of research that may be useful to state decision makers.
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Evaluate various tools and indicators that may be of use to state policy makers in assessing likely sustainability impacts and tradeoffs of policy choices.
Tuesday, June 23, 2009
LUSSIER FAMILY HERITAGE CENTER
9:00 AM |
Introduction Emmy Simmons, Co-Chair, Roundtable on Science and Technology for Sustainability, The National Academies |
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Welcome Molly Jahn, Dean, College of Agricultural and Life Sciences, University of Wisconsin |
9:15 AM |
Workshop Overview Gary Radloff, Wisconsin State Department of Agriculture |
SETTING THE STAGE
9:30 AM |
U.S. Energy Independence and Security Act (EISA), Implications for State Biofuels Policies Paul Argyropoulos and Bruce Rodan, U.S. Environmental Protection Agency |
9:45 AM |
Overview: Regional Biofuels Policies (Wisconsin, Minnesota, and Iowa) Brendan Jordan, Great Plains Institute Judy Ziewacz, Director, Wisconsin Office of Energy Independence John Yunker, Office of the Legislative Auditor, Minnesota |
10:15 AM |
Discussion |
10:30 AM |
Break |
10:45 AM |
A Transition to Advanced Biofuels: Where Are We? John Miranowski, National Research Council Panel Member, Report: Alternative Liquid Transportation Fuels John Regalbuto, National Science Foundation, Federal Inter-Agency Biomass R&D Board, Conversion Technologies Assessment Report |
11:15 AM |
Questions and Discussion |
11:30 AM |
Sustainability and a Transition to Advanced Biofuels John Sheehan, University of Minnesota, Institute on the Environment |
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12:00 PM |
Questions and Discussion |
12:30 PM |
Lunch |
REGIONAL IMPACTS OF BIOFUEL PRODUCTION AND USE IN THE UPPER MIDWEST
1:30 PM |
The Economics of Expanding Biofuel Production in the Upper Midwest (Panel Discussion) Panel Moderator: Bruce Babcock, Center for Agricultural and Rural Development, Iowa State University What have we learned from experience with corn-based ethanol? What is required to make the industry viable going forward? What are likely impacts of expanding the production and deployment of advanced cellulosic biofuel technologies on state economies, employment, agricultural production, and prices for land and agricultural commodities? How will these impacts differ with various feedstocks? What are the likely impacts on competing users for land and biomass feedstocks (food, feed, fiber, and other bioenergy feedstocks)? |
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2:30 PM |
Social and Community-Level Impacts of Biofuel Production in the Upper Midwest (Panel Discussion) Panel Moderator: Michael Bell, University of Wisconsin-Madison What social impacts have been observed and might be seen in the future? How can adverse social impacts be minimized as we move forward with a transition to advanced biofuels? Who benefits and who stands to lose in various production scenarios, including transition from corn-based ethanol to cellulosic ethanol? |
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3:30 PM |
The Environment and Health (Panel Discussion) Panel Moderator: Phil Robertson, GLBRC and Michigan State University What have been the environmental impacts of expanded corn ethanol production in the Upper Midwest, and what are the likely impacts of expanding production of both cellulosic biofuels and corn-based ethanol? What does this mean for environmental sustainability in this region, and what are appropriate metrics and indicators? Discussion to include land-use changes. |
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4:30 PM |
Breakout Discussions: Lessons Learned and a Transition Forward Each breakout group of participants will be asked to answer the set of questions below based on their expertise and information presented during the workshop’s earlier sessions. |
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5:15 PM |
Breakout Groups Report Back |
5:30 PM |
Adjourn |
6:00-7:30 PM |
Reception, Hosted by the Wisconsin Bioenergy Initiative, Nelson Institute for Environmental Studies, and the College of Agricultural and Life Sciences, Brocach Irish Pub, 7 W. Main Street, Second floor, Madison, WI |
Wednesday, June 24, 2009
LUSSIER FAMILY HERITAGE CENTER
9:00 AM |
The Business of Biofuels: Perspectives from the Investment Community and Industry (Panel Discussion) Moderator, Pat Atkins, Pegasus Capital Advisors |
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10: 00 AM |
Questions and Discussion |
10:30 AM |
Break |
10:45 AM |
Research for Decision Makers (Panel Discussion) Moderator: Elisabeth Graffy, U.S. Geological Survey What are some examples of federal research relevant to sustainability in the Upper Midwest? Additional examples of relevant research related to sustainability and biofuels in the region? |
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11:45 AM |
Questions and Discussion |
12:00 PM |
Lunch |
1:00 PM |
Tools to Inform Policy Choices (Panel Discussion) Moderator: Jason Hill, University of Minnesota What tools are available to inform policy choices? What are the strengths and weaknesses of existing tools? |
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2:00 PM |
Breakout Session: State Policy Objectives and Research Needs: Going Forward Each breakout group of participants will be asked to answer the set of questions below based on their expertise and information presented during the workshop’s earlier sessions. |
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3:00 PM |
Breakout Groups Report Back |
3:30 PM |
Break |
3:45 PM |
Breakout Session: Policy Evaluation of Tradeoffs, Benefits, and Challenges: Going Forward Each breakout group of participants will be asked to answer the set of questions below based on their expertise and information presented during the workshop’s earlier sessions. |
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4:45 PM |
Breakout Groups Report Back |
5:15 PM |
Wrap Up: Summary of Workshop Discussions Moderator: Gary Radloff, Wisconsin State Department of Agriculture |
5:30 PM |
Adjourn |