Jack Gerard Delivers 2015 State of American Energy Address
(American Petroleum Institute) … As part of this event, we publish our report on the State of American Energy, but this year’s report is different, because for the first time it includes contributions from all major sources of energy: solar, nuclear, hydro, wind, coal, geothermal, biomass, energy efficiency and, of course, oil and natural gas.
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The State of American Energy report is an opportunity to reflect on our nation’s energy future, and to urge our nation’s leaders, from all political philosophies, to support smart, responsible and forward-looking energy policies that promote economic growth, job creation, and U.S. energy security and leadership. READ MORE Download report
Excerpts from the report: Cleaner-burning gasoline and diesel, as well as biofuels, jet fuel and heating oil, fuel our homes and businesses and enable the movement of goods and people that is essential to a growing economy…
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The biomass industry has significant potential as an energy source. In 2012, the Union of Concerned Scientists identified 680 million tons of biomass that could be used for energy and fuels, resulting in 54 billion gallons of nonfood ethanol and biofuels, and enough electricity to meet 20 percent of U.S. energy demand by 2030. … Bioenergy can help create a more stable energy future, improve environmental quality, and increase economic opportunities.
Yet, the industry faces challenges both to the continued success of current facilities and the ability to grow. State policies often do not value the baseload capacity provided by existing facilities. Also, state renewable policies are an uneven patchwork of incentives that have different rules and widely varying values from state to state.
New biomass development is also significantly hampered by federal tax policy that needs significant reform, as current
law creates energy production tax credits of varying amounts, resulting in an uneven playing field for biomass.
Moreover, the stopstart nature of renewable energy tax credits does not offer predictable, long-term incentives necessary for capital intensive, baseload energy projects like biomass.
Finally, national and state agencies involved in the regulation of carbon emissions must resolve policy uncertainties regarding how biogenic emissions from biomass plants will be regulated. The science overwhelmingly supports the carbon benefits of taking waste materials and converting them to energy. Many state agencies embrace the benefits of
biomass, and the industry sees positive signs from the administration that the Environmental Protection Agency will soon also recognize the benefits of biomass on a federal level. READ MORE
