BIOMASS INTEL

A new study published in the University of California journal, California Agriculture, argues that biomass resources can help meet state and national bioenergy targets, but internationally consistent sustainability standards and practices are needed to inform policy and provide direction and guidance to industry.  The report estimates that 30 million tons per year of annual in-state production could be available on a sustainable basis to help meet state goals for increasing the amounts of electricity and fuels from renewable resources under the Renewable Portfolio Standard (RPS) and the Low Carbon Fuel Standard (LCFS), and can similarly help meet national biofuel targets under the federal Renewable Fuel Standard (RFS).

The three primary biomass resources available in the state are agricultural residues, forest residues, and urban wastes.  The report notes, however, that government policies aimed at stimulating biomass markets are often developed with inadequate information to properly assess full life-cycle impacts or evaluate issues of environmental justice and human rights.  Accordingly, better understanding about the logistical supply chain is needed.

The report identifies the following as challenges to the increased utilization of biomass resources in California:

• The need for more demonstration facilities producing biofuels from lignocellulosic feedstocks and advanced power-generation options
• Air emissions for new facilities
• Water quality and waste disposal for siting and financing
• Permitting complexity and cost
• Increasing feedstock costs and declining ethanol market prices
• Systemic understanding of overall efficiency, GHG emissions, and local pollutant emissions and exposures to implement proper incentives

The full text of the report is available here.