25x'25 Brief Offers Tool for Engaging Policy Makers in Push for Clean Energy Future

(25 x '25) The renewable energy sector has been the fastest growing domestic energy sector for the past five years, yet the expansion of biomass energy solutions in America is at risk. As Congress and the White House seek ways to reduce spending and lower the deficit, federal support for the energy solutions that come from biofuels and biopower energy produced by our nation’s farms, ranches, and forests is wavering.

Compounding the seeming shortsightedness of policy makers who fail to see the long-term economic benefits, including job creation, that come with renewable transportation fuels and power sources, fossil energy interests and some misguided food and environmental groups intensify their pushback, citing arguments that have long been discredited or significantly challenged by real-world experience.

Fossil fuel interests, in particular, would redefine what constitutes “clean” energy, claiming that natural gas and “clean” coal carry virtually the same benefits to the environment as renewable energy resources. Yet, biomass energy systems enjoy distinct economic, national security and environmental benefits over fossil energy.

This week, the 25x’25 Alliance leadership issued a call to its partners – in fact, to all renewable energy stakeholders – to join in an organized effort to differentiate biomass energy from fossil systems and communicate to policy makers, opinion leaders and the public at large the benefits of energy solutions that come from the agriculture and forestry sectors.

To assist in this campaign, the Alliance issued this week an eight-page document, A Clean Energy Policy Brief for Agriculture and Forestry Partners, that details the current energy policy environment for the agriculture and forestry sectors, while also highlighting several key opportunities and challenges ahead for bioenergy development.

For example, the brief calls for significant investments in research and development, as well as infrastructure, all needed for cellulosic fuel production to overcome technical and commercial barriers, and meet ambitious targets set by the federal Renewable Fuels Standard updated in 2007 (RFS2). The RFS2, a volumetric standard aimed at reducing emissions, is ensuring the continued progress of fuel sources produced from feedstocks such as corn, soybeans, farm and forestry residues, and, increasingly, purpose-grown biomass.

A Low Carbon Fuel Standard (LCFS) adopted by California and under consideration by two state coalitions representing governors from more than 20 states, along with three other individual states, represents another possible source of demand and support for biomass feedstocks and bioenergy. The LCFS adopted by California, unfortunately, imposes an unproven Indirect Land Use Change factor among life-cycle analysis criteria that penalizes ethanol from Midwest corn compared to ethanol derived from, say, sugar cane. The brief makes it clear that the formulation of standards regulating renewable transportation fuels must have the input of stakeholders to insure that these alternative fuels can provide optimal benefits.

The EPA’s implementation of greenhouse gas emission reduction rules under the Clean Air Act is expected to cover more than 70 percent of total U.S. emissions from stationary sources. Depending on how the system is developed, it could entail significant bioenergy and biomass producer benefits or impediments. Thus far, because of the strong work of bioenergy supporters, the results have been generally positive. The EPA recently announced that is treating biogenic emissions favorably over the next three years while they confirm the best scientific evidence. Meanwhile, emerging state and regional programs are creating opportunities to provide carbon offsets from forestry and anaerobic digesters at prices above $10 per ton of carbon dioxide (CO2) equivalent.

The brief acknowledges the difficulties posed by any effort to adopt a national renewable portfolio standard (RPS), but notes that President Obama’s proposal for Clean Energy Standard (CES) could provide an opportunity to build on the same renewable energy sources mandated by an RPS. The analysis also notes that as of June 2011, twenty-nine states have established firm RPS policies (eight other states have adopted non-binding renewable portfolio goals) that could accelerate markets for renewable energy.

A principle take-away from the 25x’25 clean energy brief is that properly constructed legislation and policies have the potential to advance the 25x’25 goals of increased renewable energy generation, economic development, and improvements in energy security and environmental quality. However, poorly constructed legislation and policies could lead to little additional renewable energy generation and could even impede the progress of renewables.

The agricultural and forestry sectors have significant natural advantages over fossil and nuclear energy alternatives. Some of the advantages which bioenergy systems hold are already embedded in currently authorized programs, which must be defended and expanded. Others are just emerging and require education, analysis and work to be realized in policy solutions.

Given the intense debate expected as Congress wrestles with spending levels for fiscal 2012 and beyond, and a less than prominent mention of the renewable energy sectors as a source for new jobs in the president’s speech this week, a concerted and collaborative effort by all renewable energy stakeholders is critical to best insure these clean alternatives are given the full consideration by policy makers that they deserve. The brief is available to help stakeholders make their case. READ MORE Download Clean Energy Policy Brief