Course: BFM 101 Biofuels Fundamentals

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Introduction to Community Issues in Bioenergy Deve…
The “Triple Bottom Line” Approach to Bioenergy Dev…

Issues and Opportunities Related to Bioenergy Development
Issues and Opportunities Related to Bioenergy Development

Our economy is based on  cheap, readily available, fossil fuel derived energy.  A shift to renewable energy resources will have significant consequences for society, including many at the community level.  Whereas our traditional energy system might be characterized by “out of sight, out of mind,” widespread adoption of renewable energy will be much more noticeable at the local level.

Bioenergy development, in particular, will be highly visible. It will require new systems and technologies for feedstock production, harvesting, transportation, conversion and distribution of energy products; and will carry  the potential of raising new concerns [1]. In this section, we identify and briefly discuss issues of concern to community stakeholders.

Environmental Issues and Concerns

Air Quality. Biomass combustion technologies, to date, have often not met air quality requirements and have been associated with odor problems.  Throughout the Midwest, and especially in rural areas, highly polluting outdoor biomass boilers are a major contributor to poor air quality. Odors from a production facility can be a problem for facility neighbors [2].

Water Quality. The rush to provide corn for ethanol resulted in a large number of acres devoted to corn production. Concerns have been raised about the net effect on water quality, especially when acres previously enrolled in conservation reserve and similar environmental benefits programs are switched to corn production.

Soil Health. An increased demand for biomass has caused concern over soil health and nutrient depletion among some foresters, soil scientists, and others. If biomass harvests are not sustainable and if nutrients are not returned to the soil, the long term ecological health of the soil may be undermined.

Biodiversity. Concerns about loss of animal and plant biodiversity have been raised with regard to bioenergy, especially in the developing world. For example, palm oil plantations and other oil seed monocultures have led to the destruction of large tracts of forest.  Some studies suggest that indirect land use impacts on native forests may be equally deleterious.  Some argue that bioenergy production has led to a reduction in acres for food production worldwide, thereby driving up prices and accelerating the rush to clear native forests and develop agriculture in the tropics.

Social Issues and Concerns

Traffic and other local siting issues. Like any development, bioenergy development involves a change in land use, and can, therefore, be controversial. Large scale bioenergy production requires massive amounts of feedstock to be transported to the biorefinery facility, sometimes through residential and commercial districts.

Competition between food production and fuel production. Serious ethical questions have been raised regarding the use of food crops, such as corn, for liquid biofuel production, particularly if that reduces food supplies.

Economic Issues and Concerns

Ownership of local natural resources. In some communities, there are concerns that outside interests may gain too much control over local assets, including locally available biomass and financial resources.

Ownership of biorefineries. In some communities, there are concerns that local entrepreneurs and investors may not be able to participate in local renewable energy development due to high capital and other up-front costs associated with larger projects.

Opportunities

In this section, we identify and briefly discuss some opportunities that bioenergy production may offer communities.

Address climate change by decreasing the levels of GHG (greenhouse gas) emissions currently released into the atmosphere through fossil fuel energy sources. If developed wisely, bioenergy and other renewable energy resources have the potential to reduce greenhouse gas emissions.

Reduce U.S. dependence on foreign oil and create more energy independent communities. Many regions of the U.S. are rich in biomass feedstocks and are, therefore, good candidates for bioenergy production. Bioenergy, unlike solar and wind, is capable of producing heat, power, and liquid fuels for transportation using existing technology.

Stimulate economic development and create jobs, especially in rural areas. We are sending vast sums of money out of local and regional economies to import fossil fuels. Our local economies are “leaking” dollars. Sealing those leaks would enhance local economic development as dollars circulate locally. The construction and operation of bioenergy facilities may help rural communities retain or create new jobs.

Enhance rural conservation efforts by placing a higher value on working landscapes that produce food, fuel, and fiber for society. Rural conservation efforts have struggled to maintain large intact tracts of forest and farmland in the face of development pressure. By adding value to existing operations, bioenergy has the potential to contribute to stronger rural economies and higher land values which, in turn, may discourage or limit nonagricultural development.

Improve air quality by reducing dependence on dirty, coal burning power plants. With the right technology, bioenergy has the potential to be less polluting than conventional coal fired power plants. For example, bio-power can reduce mercury emissions.

Resources provided by the eXtension Farm Energy Community of Practice at http://www.extension.org/ag+energy

Introduction to Community Issues in Bioenergy Deve…
The “Triple Bottom Line” Approach to Bioenergy Dev…