Experts from Iowa universities provided the Iowa General Assembly with science based information on on ethanol, biodiesel and other bio-based alternative fuels in January of 2006. Available slides summarize their remarks on energy balance, performance, tax incentives, mandates and sustainability. View the presentation:
regentsrenewablefuelsjan2006.pdf
Text from the four summary pages closing the 87-page slide presentation follow below the fold:
(read more)
Summary: Energy Balance
• All processes, including ethanol and gasoline
production, consume more energy than you get out of
them.
• Differing perspectives on energy balance of ethanol
plants reflect wide range of operating performance
among real plants.
• Modern plants have favorable energy balances, but
we can do better — advanced biofuels production
technologies currently under development.
Summary: Performance
• E10 delivers 96% and E85 80% of MPG of gasoline. All
biodiesel delivers nearly same MPG as diesel.
• Ethanol must avoid water. Distributed by more
expensive systems than gasoline.
• Markets for biofuel co-products (DDGS, soy meal)
are important. Co-products will compete with each
other and with alternative feed ingredients.
• About $2.5 billion for Iowa. About $3 is added to
every corn bushel for ethanol, DDGS use.
Summary: Tax Incentives and
Mandates
• Biofuels receive significant federal/state tax subsidies
and incentives. Petroleum fuels have long history of
subsidies and incentives.
• To make renewable fuels competitive, promote energy
security and improve air quality, federal and state
governments attempt to level playing field with tax
subsidies and incentives.
• Iowa has incentive and comparative advantage
(feedstocks) to compete with other states for biofuels
growth, jobs and rural incomes.
Summary: Sustainability
• Risks: soil erosion, soil carbon, climate change, fuel
depletion, environmental pollutants.
• Benefits: energy security, displacement of
nonrenewable fossil fuels, carbon neutrality.
• Corn to ethanol (and biorenewables) offers
comparative advantages compared to fossil fuels if
risks properly managed.
• Other plant-based systems (i.e., switchgrass) offer
added advantages.
Found at The Office of Biorenewables Programs, which provides materials highlighting the activities of the BioEconomy Initiative at Iowa State University. The OBP provides a reading list of publications which provides introductory material on the production of energy, fuels, chemicals, and materials from biorenewable resources.
The OBP also includes information about the 2006 Biobased Industry Outlook Conference scheduled for August 28-29, 2006 in Ames, Iowa. According to OBP: