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1 This Guidebook provides an overview of the operational and programmatic issues and market conditions associated with utilizing highway rights-of-way (ROWs) to develop carbon sequestration projects to generate saleable carbon offsets or to grow marketable biomass for sale into bioenergy markets. The goal is to provide state departments of transportation (DOTs) with the knowledge and context necessary to make informed decisions and a roadmap for evaluating the feasibility of implementing such projects. While it is technically feasible to grow a variety of vegetation types along roadsides that could serve either the bioenergy or carbon offset markets, given current market conditions and the operational constraints of the ROW, the practical opportunity to implement such activities is limited. That said, there might be local circumstances in which these conditions and con- straints do not prevail. This Guidebook provides state DOTs a roadmap to determine if local conditions are favorable to project development. This right-of-way carbon sequestration and bioenergy feedstock Feasibility Toolkit provides a DOT with a suite of decision support tools to systematically evaluate opportunities in a local context. The Feasibility Toolkit also includes tools to model a proposed projectâs financial viability based on default values that the user can modify to develop a customized analysis. Notably, some of the current limitations to project implementation may not hold in the future, given the dynamic nature of both the carbon offset and bioenergy markets. Both markets are rapidly evolving and changes in energy prices, technology, or public policy could provide more favorable conditions. For this reason, interested DOTs should periodically revisit market conditions and operational constraints identified in the Guidebook and the NCHRP Project 25-35 final report. DOT Motivations There are two primary motivations for DOTs to consider implementation of a carbon sequestration or bioenergy feedstock project in the ROW. First, decreasing revenues and increasing costs are driving many DOTs to consider alternative vegetation management approaches in an effort to reduce operating costs or generate new sources of revenue. Second, increasing concern about the effects of climate change on human and ecological systems, including transportation systems, has prompted many DOTs to seek measures to mitigate the emission of greenhouse gasses (GHGs). These efforts are often in response to a policy mandate, but can also be prompted by a general concern about social and environmental welfare. S U M M A R Y Guidebook for Designing and Managing Rights-of-Way for Carbon Sequestration and Biomass Generation
2 Guidebook for Designing and Managing Rights-of-Way for Carbon Sequestration and Biomass Generation Establishing a clear understanding about these underlying motivations at the outset of a feasibility assessment is important because even if a project is not financially viable, a DOT might still pursue implementation for altruistic reasons. While implementing projects in order to showcase environmental leadership is valid and laudable, the focus of this Guidebook is on evaluating project viability in terms of revenue potential. Organization of the Guidebook This Guidebook is arranged by the following topics: DOT management considerationsâThis chapter provides an overview of the management issues DOT managers should consider when evaluating the feasibility of implementing carbon sequestration and bioenergy feedstock projects within the highway ROW. These include motorist safety, asset management, environment, other regulations and policies, and programmatic considerations. In addition to discussing each of these issues, this chapter identifies strategies to address the issues. Carbon sequestration activities and marketsâThis chapter provides a primer on the types of activities that could potentially result in saleable carbon offsets, the prospects for such projects under current conditions, and criteria to monitor in the future. Biomass feedstocks and marketsâThis chapter provides a primer on bioenergy markets and feedstocks, the prospects for cultivating bioenergy feedstocks in the ROW under current conditions, and criteria to monitor in the future. Feasibility ToolkitâThis chapter gives a brief description of the tools included in the accompanying Toolkit, including high-level financial analytics to support feasibility screening. The Feasibility Toolkit is a spreadsheet workbook that is pre-populated with rates and norms for quick assessments, and can be customized further for greater accuracy as the information becomes available.
