Cellulosic Biofuels: Analysis of Policy Issues for Congress Page: 3 of 26
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Cellulosic Biofuels: Analysis of Policy Issues for Congress
Contents
Introduction ................................................................................................................................1
The Renewable Fuel Standard: A Mandatory Usage Mandate ................................................1
Challenges Facing the Industry......................................................................................... 2
Cellulosic Feedstock Supplies ................................................................................................. 3
Crop Residues.......................................................................................................................4
Prairie Grasses ......................................................................................................................5
Forest Sources of Biomass ....................................................................................................5
Secondary and Tertiary Feedstocks........................................................................................6
Feedstock Issues ...................................................................................................................6
Volumes Required...........................................................................................................6
Impacts on Food Supplies ........................................................................................... 8
Establishment Costs and Contracting Arrangem ents .................................................... 8
Extracting Fuel from Cellulose: Conversion ................................................................................8
Production Processes.............................................................................................................9
Acid Hydrolysis ..............................................................................................................9
Enzymatic Hydrolysis ...................................................................................................10
Thermochemical Gasification and Pyrolysis ..................................................................10
Distribution and Absorption Constraints ................................................................................ 11
Distribution Bottlenecks.................................................................................................. 11
The Blend W all................................................................................................................... 11
Economic and Environmental Issues .........................................................................................12
Economic Efficiency ...........................................................................................................12
Energy Balance...................................................................................................................12
Environment .......................................................................................................................13
Greenhouse Gas Emissions .................................................................................................13
Private Investment ....................................................................................................................14
Federal Cellulosic Biofuels Policies ..........................................................................................15
Direct Federal Spending on R&D........................................................................................15
Federal-Private Partnerships..........................................................................................16
Renewable Energy Provisions in the 2008 Farm Bill (P.L. 110-246) .................16
Tax Credit for Cellulosic Biofuels (Section 15321)........................................................17
Ethanol Tariff Extension (Section 15333)......................................................................17
Agricultural Bioenergy Feedstock and Energy Efficiency Research and Extension
Initiative (Section 7207).............................................................................................17
Biorefinery Assistance (Section 9003)...........................................................................17
Repowering Assistance (Section 9004)..........................................................................18
Bioenergy Program for Advanced Biofuels (Section 9005)............................................18
Biomass Research and Development Initiative (Section 9008).......................................19
Biomass Crop Assistance Program (Section 9011).........................................................19
Forest Biomass for Energy (Section 9012).....................................................................19
Energy Improvem ent and Extension Act of 2008 (P.L. 110-343)....................................... 20
Expansion of the Allowance for Cellulosic Ethanol Property (Division B, Section
201) ...........................................................................................................................20
Legislative Proposals ................................................................................................................ 20
Congressional Research Service
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Bracmort, Kelsi; Schnepf, Randy; Stubbs, Megan & Yacobucci, Brent D. Cellulosic Biofuels: Analysis of Policy Issues for Congress, report, February 1, 2010; Washington D.C.. (https://digital.library.unt.edu/ark:/67531/metadc806727/m1/3/?rotate=270: accessed July 17, 2024), University of North Texas Libraries, UNT Digital Library, https://digital.library.unt.edu; crediting UNT Libraries Government Documents Department.