| Articles & Reports |
| Biofuels, a policy paper |
April 28, 2009 - The coalition for Clean, Responsible Energy for Wisconsin’s Economy (CREWE) today released its final three policy papers—Biofuels, Nuclear Power and Wind Development— which include recommendations that would spur economic development, reduce greenhouse gas reductions and create jobs. CREWE’s membership consists of Alliant Energy, EcoEnergy, Johnson Controls, Xcel Energy, C5•6 Technologies, Madison Gas and Electric, Orion Energy Systems, Forest County Potawatomi Community, Wisconsin Energy Corp., Emerging Energies of Wisconsin, MillerCoors, American Transmission Co. and WPPI Energy. |
| Biofuel alternatives to ethanol: pumping the microbial well |
A July 2008 article from Trends in Biotechnology, Abstract: "Although ethanol currently dominates the biofuel market, some of its inherent physical properties make it a less than ideal product. To highlight additional options, we review advances in microbial engineering for the production of other potential fuel molecules, using a variety of biosynthetic pathways." |
Turning algae into ethanol, and gold |
A June 11, 2008 article by cleantech, Abstract: "Naples, Fla.-based Algenol Biofuels says it has found a way to inexpensively bring third-generation biofuels to industrial scale. And, unlike most algal biofuel companies, it's apparently got a licensing deal for an $850 million project to show for it. The company believes its seawater-based process can generate up to a billion gallons of algal ethanol per year from a facility in Mexico." |
| How Green are Bio-Fuels? |
Chart from the University of Washington, Summary: "Bio-fuels are getting a bad rap as stories of rising food prices and shortages fill the news. But the environmental, energy and land use impacts of the crops used to make the fuels vary dramatically. Current fuel sources - corn, soybeans, and canola - are more harmful than alternatives that are under development." Source: "Biofuels and Biodiversity: Principles for Creating Better Policies for Biofuel Production" by: Martha J. Groom, Elizabeth M. Gray, And Patricia A. Townsend from the University of Washington. |
Biofuels: the Good, the Bad and the Unusual |
May 2008 article from the International Energy Agency, Abstract: "Within recent months biofuels have gone from making headline news as being the world's salvation for when the oil runs out to becoming a "crime against humanity." Almost every day the world's media run a story on the topic, often blaming biofuels for all the world's pending disasters. Even a recent spike in the price of rice was blamed on producing more biofuels whereas, in fact, rice is not used as a feedstock at all!" |
| Are biofuels sustainable? |
An environmental audit from the British House of Commons from January 2008, Summary: "Biofuels can reduce greenhouse gas emissions from road transport-but most first generation biofuels have a detrimental impact on the environment overall . . . In general biofuels produces from conventional crops should no longer receive support from the Government. Instead the Government should concentrate on the development of more efficient biofuel technologies that might have a sustainable role in the future." |
| Crop-Based Biofuel Production under Acreage Constraints and Uncertainty |
February 2008 report from CARD, Abstract:
"A myriad of policy issues and questions revolve around understanding the bioeconomy. To gain insight, we develop a stochastic and dynamic general equilibrium model and capture the uncertain nature of key variables such as crude oil prices and commodity yields. We also incorporate acreage limitations on key feedstocks such as corn, soybeans, and switchgrass. We make standard assumptions that investors are rational and engage in biofuel production only if returns exceed what they can expect to earn from alternative investments." |
| Thirsty for Energy: Biofuels and Water |
Posted February 8, 2008, Summary: "Because of a strong U.S. national interest in greater energy independence, biofuels have become important liquid transportation fuels and are likely to remain so for the foreseeable future. This report explores the reality of biofuels, including their effect on our water supply." |
| Biofuels Deemed a Greenhouse Threat |
Published February 8, 2008, Abstract: "Almost all biofuels used today cause more greenhouse gas emissions than conventional fuels if the full emissions costs of producing these 'green' fuels are taken into account, two studies being published Thursday have concluded.
The benefits of biofuels have come under increasing attack in recent months, as scientists took a closer look at the global environmental cost of their production. These latest studies, published in the prestigious journal Science, are likely to add to the controversy." |
| The Future of Biofuels: A Global Perspective |
A November 2007 report from the USDA's Economic Research Service. " Biofuels will likely be part of a portfolio of solutions to high energy prices, including conservation, more efficient energy use, and use of other alternative fuels." Includes discussion of food v. fuel, government policy, and trend predictions. |
| The Biofuels Supply Chain |
A July 2007 report from the National Advisory Council for Environmental Policy and Technology, commissioned by the Environmental Protection Agency to "ecommend a strategic framework around which EPA might plan its work related to biofuels to ensure its contribution to expedient and environmentally sustainable development of energy supplies." Includes a useful presentation of the biofuels supply chain. |
| From Biomass to Biofuels |
A 6-page overview from the
National Renewable Energy Laboratory, August 2006. Includes brief updates in layman terms on status of potential biofuels beyond ethanol. |
| Biofuels '101' |
A 6-page overview from the University of Tennessee Extension service. |
| Biofuels: Is The Cure Worse Than The Disease? |
Report from the Organisation for Economic Co-operation and Development's "Round Table on Sustainable Development," edited by Richard Doornbosch and Ronald Steenblik, Paris, 11-12 September 2007. Includes an an "alternative policy agenda" starting on page 42. |
| Article: America's New Oil Barrons |
The Sept-Oct 2006 issue of the USDA's Rural Cooperatives magazine is dedicated to the issue of bio-energy. |
| Liquid Biofuels: Substituting for Petroleum |
This is a free summary of a $15,000 report (December 2006) by the company Nexant Chem Systems that examines a wide range of techologies and bio-fuels and makes forecasts through 2020. |
| Myths of the Agro-fuels Transition |
A critical analysis of the potential of biofuels from the Executive Director of Food First
/Institute for Food and Development Policy |
