Renewable fuel standard : potential economic and environmental effects of U.S. biofuel policy / Committee on Economic and Environmental Impacts of Increasing Biofuels Production, Board on Agricultural and Natural Resources, Division on Earth and Life Studes ; Board on Energy and Environmental Systems, Division on Engineering and Physical Sciences, National Research Council of the National Academies.

Format:

Book

Author/Creator:

National Research Council (U.S.). Committee on Economic and Environmental Impacts of Increasing Biofuels Production.

Contributor:

National Research Council (U.S.). Board on Agriculture and Natural Resources.

National Research Council (U.S.). Board on Energy and Environmental Systems.

Language:

English

Subjects (All):

Biomass energy industries--Standards--United States.

Biomass energy industries.

Renewable energy sources--Standards--United States.

Renewable energy sources.

Biomass energy--Environmental aspects--United States.

Biomass energy.

Energy crops industry--United States.

Energy crops industry.

Energy policy--United States.

Energy policy.

Biomass energy--Environmental aspects.

United States.

Physical Description:

xxi, 393 pages : illustrations (some color), color maps ; 23 cm

Place of Publication:

Washington, D.C. : National Academies Press, [2011]

Summary:

"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."--Publisher's description.

Contents:

Introduction

Biofuel supply chain

Projected supply of cellulosic biomass

The economics and economic effects of biofuel production

Environmental effects and tradeoffs of biofuels

Barriers to achieving RFS2 [Renewable Fuel Standard].

Notes:

Includes bibliographical references.

ISBN:

9780309187510

0309187516

OCLC:

773828613