Overview
Rising fossil fuel prices and policy changes, including
the passage of the Energy Independence and Security Act
(EISA) of 2007, have created an environment where research
development and investment in renewable energy sources
have gained new momentum. Among renewable energy sources,
bioenergy derived from plant materials has been one of
the most rapidly growing sectors. Although most bioenergy
production currently comes from agricultural crops such
as grains, oilseeds, and sugar, research is increasingly
focused on cellulosic sources of biomass such as wood
and perennial grasses, use of which would expand the range
of potential feedstocks. In the United States at this
time, ethanol (produced mainly from corn) is the largest
source of bioenergy used as a fuel additive or substitute
for petroleum fuel, while biodiesel (made from vegetable
oils and fats) provides a smaller share of bioenergy.
Biofuels currently account for roughly 5 percent of overall
transportation fuel use in the United States, and the
use of biofuels is scheduled to reach 36 billion gallons
by 2022 under the EISA Renewable Fuels Standard. The rapid
increase in grain-based ethanol production and the potential
use of cellulosic materials as an ethanol feedstock affects
agricultural markets, local communities, consumer prices,
and environmental quality. ERS information products include
current estimates and projections of commodity supply,
demand, and retail food prices. Further information and
analyses describe conditions of the U.S. agricultural
system, land use, rural communities, and the environment,
and the impacts that bioenergy development may have on
these areas.
Features
Increasing Feedstock Production for Biofuels: Economic Drivers, Environmental Implications, and the Role of Research (December 2008). The implications of increased demand for feedstocks to meet the Nation's biofuels goals are uncertain. Questions include what types of feedstocks will be used, at what prices, grown where, and with what implications for greenhouse gases and sustainability? A report released by the interagency Biomass Research and Development Board addresses these issues, including analysis of scenarios for specific biofuel targets with alternative assumptions about key variables like crop productivity and input prices.
Biofuel, Biofuel Feedstock, and Coproduct Market Data. A collection of data sources (primarily for the United States) from USDA, U.S. Department of Energy, and other government entities on production, use, prices, and trade of biofuels, their feedstocks, and coproducts. The sources focus on grain-derived ethanol (because cellulosic ethanol is not yet widely manufactured or commercially available in the United States) and biodiesel derived from oils, fats, and greases.
ERS Bioenergy Information
and Research and ERS
Bioenergy Research Plans. These materials provide
an overview of current and planned ERS activities related
to U.S. and international bioenergy production. Key indicators
will be monitored and indepth research conducted on the
impacts of bioenergy developments on agricultural systems,
rural communities, food prices, and the environment.
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