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Cellulosic Biofuels: Analysis of Policy Issues for Congress
a major part of an effort to reduce U.S. gasoline use by 20% through biofuels and conservation.
This goal was given substance in December 2007, when Congress passed EISA, mandating the
RFS for the use of specific volumes of renewable biofuels through 2022 and setting a goal of
commercial-scale cellulosic biofuels production by 2012.
This report provides background on the current effort to develop industrial-scale, competitive
technology to produce biofuels from cellulosic feedstocks. It outlines the three major challenges
faced in the context of the RFS: (1) feedstock supply, (2) extraction of fuel from cellulose, and (3)
biofuel distribution and marketing issues. It then examines the current role of government (in
cooperation with private industry) in developing that technology. Finally, the report reviews the
role of Congress with respect to the emerging cellulosic biofuels industry, reviews recent
congressional actions affecting the industry, and discusses key questions facing Congress.
Cellulosic Feedstock Supplies
Feedstocks used for cellulosic biofuels are potentially abundant and diverse. Initially it was
thought that a major advantage of cellulosic biofuels over corn-starch ethanol was that they could
be derived from potentially inexpensive feedstocks that could be produced on marginal land.6
Corn, on the other hand, is a resource-intensive crop that requires significant use of chemicals,
fertilizers, and water, and is generally grown on prime farmland. However, field research now
suggests that establishment costs, as well as collection, storage, and transportation costs,
associated with the production of bulky biomass crops are likely to be more challenging than
originally thought.'
Cellulose, combined with hemicellulose and lignin, provides structural rigidity to plants and is
also present in plant-derived products such as paper and cardboard. Feedstocks high in cellulose
come from agricultural, forest, and even urban sources (see Table 1). Agricultural sources include
crop residues and biomass crops such as switchgrass; forest sources include tree plantations,
natural forests, and cuttings from forest management operations. Municipal solid waste, usually
from landfills, is the primary urban source of renewable biomass.
Cellulosic feedstocks may have some environmental drawbacks. Some crops suggested for
biomass are invasive species when planted in non-native environments. Municipal solid wastes
may likely require extensive sorting to segregate usable material and may also contain hazardous
material that is expensive to remove. In general, calculation of the estimated cost of biofuels
production does not reflect environmental or related impacts, but such impacts are relevant to
overall consideration of biofuels issues.
Biomass feedstocks are bulky and difficult to handle, presenting the industry with a major
challenge. Whether feedstocks are obtained from agriculture or forests, specialized machinery
would need to be developed to harvest and handle large volumes of bulky biomass. For instance,
harvesting corn for both grain and stover would be more efficient with a one-pass machine
capable of simultaneously segregating and processing both-a combination forage and grain
6 Breaking the Link between Food and Biofuels, Bruce A. Babcock, Briefing Paper 08-BP 53, July 2008.
Preliminary draft of the feedstock and technology chapters from a Purdue University study on "Cellulosic Biofuels:
Technology, Market, and Policy Assessment," September 7, 2009. This study is being conducted by Purdue University
under contract with CRS and is supported by Joyce Foundation funding.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/m1/7/: accessed July 17, 2024), University of North Texas Libraries, UNT Digital Library, https://digital.library.unt.edu; crediting UNT Libraries Government Documents Department.