Elise Roche November 3 rd 2009 BIOFUELS Searching for Transportation Energy

Global and U.S. Consumption Fossil fuels used for transport: worldwide 96% ( Sierraclub), U.S. 70% (projected increase of 30% by 2030) (Helm 1990/BRDB 2008) U.S. consumes 141,500,000,000 gallons/year (Akinci 2008) o Automobiles, buses, planes, barges Fossil fuel use has significant affects on our global climate

Transportation (red) is the leading source of carbon dioxide in the atmosphere producing about 6000 million metric tons. Energy Information Agency 2009 The Big Picture

Passenger cars account for more than one-third of green house gas emissions related to transportation. U.S. Environmental Protection Agency 2002 Green House Gas Emissions

Big Impacts Habitat Degradation o Drilling for fuel o Loss of biodiversity o Ecosystem services Pollution o Vehicle emissions o Acid rain o Ocean acidification o Coral bleaching o Oil spills

Ethanol o 1 st generation biofuel o Big player o Made from food crops (corn, sugarcane, rice, potato, wheat, etc.) o Fermentation process o Reduces dependency on fossil fuels o Necessary for the reduction of GHG Biofuel Background

Conservation vs. Renewable Energy Do we protect our air, water, and biodiversity while depleting our fossil fuel reserves? OR Making an alternative fuel?

Stakeholders Promoting Ethanol Government o AEI plan 2007 (BRDB2008) o Lower GHG emissions by 1.6% (Akinci 2008) o Decrease dependency on oil Farmers and Distribution Companies o Considerable profits o Renewable Automobile Makers o Profits hype.html

UNICEF and National Anti-Hunger Organizations o Use of food crops o Increased cost of ethanol National Resources Defense Council o Biodiversity Energy Justice Network o Pollution o GHG emissions OPEC o Loss of profit Stakeholders Against Ethanol

Acreage of all harvested cropland in Dark green areas indicate 75% or more while uncolored area indicate less than 5%. National Agricultural Statistics 2007 Acres of Total Cropland ENTIRE Conservation Reserve Program land (36 million acres) for ethanol production = 16.9% U.S. gasoline consumption (23,900,000,000 gallons) (Akinci 2008)

Alternative to the Alternative Cellulosic Crops Low Input High Diversity Agriculturally abandoned nitrogen-poor sandy soil 51% more usable energy per ha than corn ethanol 16-species plot = 238% more bioenergy than monoculture Use entire plant (vs. just using seeds) (Tilman 2006) CARBON NEGATIVE! warming.accuweather.com/2007/03/another_source_for_biomass_fue.html

Valiant attempt to curtail GHG emissions (not good enough) Use less of everything Combine efforts with biofuels o corn, cellulose, biodiesel In short EFFICIENCY What Do I Think?

Literature Cited Akinci, B The role of bio-fuels in satisfying US transportation fuel demands. Energy Policy. 36: 3485– Biofuels in the U.S. Transportation Sector. Energy Information Administration, Washington, D.C. Available from (accessed October 2009). Conti, J U.S. Greenhouse Gas Emissions in the Transportation Sector. Energy Information Administration. United States Securities and Exchange Commission. Helm, J Energy: Production, Consumption, and Consequences. National Academy Press. Washington, D.C. Tilman, D Carbon-Negative Biofuels from Low-Input High-Diversity Grassland Biomass. Science. 314: