Bioenergy Policy Bioenergy Policy Education ResourcesEducation Resources

National Public Policy Education National Public Policy Education ConferenceConference

September 23, 2003September 23, 2003Thomas G. JohnsonThomas G. Johnson

A Generic Framework for A Generic Framework for Bioenergy Policy EducationBioenergy Policy Education

What is bioenergy?What is bioenergy? Why bioenergy?Why bioenergy? Current situationCurrent situation Policy alternativesPolicy alternatives Consequences and impactsConsequences and impacts

What is Bioenergy?What is Bioenergy?

Glossaries of Bioenergy TermsGlossaries of Bioenergy Terms• Center for Resource SolutionsCenter for Resource Solutions• http://www.green-e.org/what_is/dictionarhttp://www.green-e.org/what_is/dictionar

y/dictionary.htmly/dictionary.html• Includes links to a number of more Includes links to a number of more

detailed sources of informationdetailed sources of information• Department of EnergyDepartment of Energy• http://http://

eia.doe.gov/kids/glossary/index.htmleia.doe.gov/kids/glossary/index.html

What is Bioenergy?What is Bioenergy?

Biomass at a GlanceBiomass at a Glance• US Department of EnergyUS Department of Energy• http://www.eere.energy.gov/biopower/bhttp://www.eere.energy.gov/biopower/b

asics/index.htmasics/index.htm Energy for Kids (US DOE)Energy for Kids (US DOE)

• http://eia.doe.gov/kids/http://eia.doe.gov/kids/• What is energy, history of energy use, What is energy, history of energy use,

fun facts, quizzes, and morefun facts, quizzes, and more

What is Bioenergy?What is Bioenergy?

Energy 101 (Union of Concerned Energy 101 (Union of Concerned Scientists)Scientists)• http://www.ucsusa.org/clean_energy/renhttp://www.ucsusa.org/clean_energy/ren

ewable_energy/page.cfm?pageID=73ewable_energy/page.cfm?pageID=73• At a high school or lower levelAt a high school or lower level• Includes a section on history of energy Includes a section on history of energy

use, detailed discussions of most use, detailed discussions of most sources of energysources of energy

• A number of photos and diagramsA number of photos and diagrams

Example of Graphics from Example of Graphics from Economics 101Economics 101

Source: Union of Concerned Scientists, Energy 101Source: Union of Concerned Scientists, Energy 101

What is Bioenergy? FAQsWhat is Bioenergy? FAQs

Bioenergy and Carbon Sinks FAQs Bioenergy and Carbon Sinks FAQs • http://www.ieabioenergy.com/media/http://www.ieabioenergy.com/media/

13_task38faq.pdf13_task38faq.pdf Renewable Energy FAQsRenewable Energy FAQs

• http://www.ucsusa.org/clean_energy/http://www.ucsusa.org/clean_energy/renewable_energy/page.cfm?renewable_energy/page.cfm?pageID=46pageID=46

Green Electricity FAQsGreen Electricity FAQs• http://www.green-e.org/pdf/faq.pdfhttp://www.green-e.org/pdf/faq.pdf

What is Bioenergy? FAQsWhat is Bioenergy? FAQs

ExamplesExamples• ““What is the difference between COWhat is the difference between CO2 2

emissions from bioenergy and fossil emissions from bioenergy and fossil fuels?”fuels?”

• ““Can land be managed simultaneously Can land be managed simultaneously as a carbon sink and for bioenergy and as a carbon sink and for bioenergy and fiber production?”fiber production?”

• ““Aren’t renewable energy sources Aren’t renewable energy sources more expensive?”more expensive?”

Why Bioenergy?Why Bioenergy?

Bioenergy reduces:Bioenergy reduces:• Global warmingGlobal warming• Air pollutionAir pollution

NOxNOx SOxSOx SmogSmog

• Water pollution from mining and Water pollution from mining and transportation of non-renewablestransportation of non-renewables

• Trade deficitsTrade deficits• Energy dependenceEnergy dependence

Why Bioenergy? Sources of Why Bioenergy? Sources of InformationInformation

Union of Concerned Scientists, “The Union of Concerned Scientists, “The Hidden Cost of Fossil Fuels” and Hidden Cost of Fossil Fuels” and “Environmental Benefits of “Environmental Benefits of Renewable Energy”Renewable Energy”

http://www.ucsusa.org/clean_energy/http://www.ucsusa.org/clean_energy/health_and_environment/page.cfm?phealth_and_environment/page.cfm?pageID=88ageID=88

Why not Bioenergy?Why not Bioenergy? Increased cropping for biomass could Increased cropping for biomass could

degrade land, reduce biodiversity, degrade land, reduce biodiversity, increase erosion, and increase pollutionincrease erosion, and increase pollution• http://www.eere.energy.gov/biopower/bplib/librhttp://www.eere.energy.gov/biopower/bplib/libr

ary/li_enviro_bioenergy.htmary/li_enviro_bioenergy.htm Some bioenergy processes are not Some bioenergy processes are not

economic without subsidization. Subsidies economic without subsidization. Subsidies may exceed external benefits.may exceed external benefits.

Bioenergy requires energy to produce and Bioenergy requires energy to produce and it is possible to increase overall energy it is possible to increase overall energy use, including non-renewable energyuse, including non-renewable energy• http://http://www.ems.org/biomass/intro.htmlwww.ems.org/biomass/intro.html

Current Federal PoliciesCurrent Federal Policies

The current Federal energy policy as The current Federal energy policy as outlined for the United Nations outlined for the United Nations Framework Convention on Climate Framework Convention on Climate ChangeChange

http://unfccc.int/resource/docs/natc/phttp://unfccc.int/resource/docs/natc/pam/usapamn3.pdfam/usapamn3.pdf

Current Federal PoliciesCurrent Federal Policies

Federal Tax CreditsFederal Tax Credits• Renewable Energy Production Tax CreditRenewable Energy Production Tax Credit

$.015 per kWh credit for biomass projects $.015 per kWh credit for biomass projects placed in service before January 1, 2002placed in service before January 1, 2002

• Renewable Energy Production IncentiveRenewable Energy Production Incentive $.015 per kWh credit for biopower$.015 per kWh credit for biopower

• Alcohol Fuel CreditAlcohol Fuel Credit $.60 per gal for ethanol and methanol$.60 per gal for ethanol and methanol

• Tax exempt financing for certain facilitiesTax exempt financing for certain facilities

Current State PoliciesCurrent State Policies

System Benefit ChargesSystem Benefit Charges• Fees added to electricity charges to Fees added to electricity charges to

generate revenues for bioenergy generate revenues for bioenergy projectsprojects

Disclosure rules Disclosure rules • Utilities required to indicate fuel sourcesUtilities required to indicate fuel sources

Renewable Portfolio StandardsRenewable Portfolio Standards• States require a given percent of States require a given percent of

electricity from bioenergyelectricity from bioenergy

States with RPSStates with RPSVoluntary RPSVoluntary RPSNo RPSNo RPS

Current State PoliciesCurrent State Policies

Cap and TradeCap and Trade• Similar to air pollution control programsSimilar to air pollution control programs

Internet Sources on Current Internet Sources on Current Bioenergy PolicyBioenergy Policy

BiopowerBiopowerhttp://www.eere.energy.gov/biopower/policy/http://www.eere.energy.gov/biopower/policy/

index.htmindex.htmClean Air Act and renewable energy: Clean Air Act and renewable energy: http://solstice.crest.org/repp_pubs/pdf/caaRen.pdfhttp://solstice.crest.org/repp_pubs/pdf/caaRen.pdfPolicy obstacles to renewable energy: Policy obstacles to renewable energy: http://solstice.crest.org/articles/static/1/binaries/http://solstice.crest.org/articles/static/1/binaries/

repp_testimony_boston.pdfrepp_testimony_boston.pdfRenewable energy policy outside the US: Renewable energy policy outside the US: http://solstice.crest.org/repp_pubs/pdf/http://solstice.crest.org/repp_pubs/pdf/

REPOutUS.pdfREPOutUS.pdf

Policy AlternativesPolicy Alternatives

Clean Energy Blueprint (Union of Clean Energy Blueprint (Union of Concerned Scientists, 2001)Concerned Scientists, 2001)• Renewable Portfolio Standard (20% by Renewable Portfolio Standard (20% by

2020)2020)• Public Benefit Fund (.2 cent per kWh Public Benefit Fund (.2 cent per kWh

surcharge on electricity)surcharge on electricity)• Production Tax Credit (1.7 cent per kWh Production Tax Credit (1.7 cent per kWh

of non-hydro renewable energy)of non-hydro renewable energy)• Net Metering (payments to consumers Net Metering (payments to consumers

that generate their own electricity)that generate their own electricity)

Policy AlternativesPolicy Alternatives

• Increases in research spendingIncreases in research spending• Incentives, and relaxed regulations to Incentives, and relaxed regulations to

encourage combined heat and encourage combined heat and electricity productionelectricity production

• Improved efficiency standards, building Improved efficiency standards, building codes and incentives to reduce energy codes and incentives to reduce energy use use

• Tradable Renewable Certificates (Green Tradable Renewable Certificates (Green Tags)Tags)

Policy AlternativesPolicy Alternatives

Tradable Renewable Certificates Tradable Renewable Certificates (Green Tags)(Green Tags)• http://www.resource-solutions.org/Regulhttp://www.resource-solutions.org/Regul

atorHandbook.htmatorHandbook.htm• http://www.eere.energy.gov/greenpowerhttp://www.eere.energy.gov/greenpower

/pdf/0603_ases_a042.pdf/pdf/0603_ases_a042.pdf• http://www.epa.gov/greenpower/http://www.epa.gov/greenpower/

gpmarket.htmgpmarket.htm

Consequences and ImpactsConsequences and Impacts

Deriving 20% of energy needs from Deriving 20% of energy needs from renewable sources would:renewable sources would:• $60 Billion investment in renewable $60 Billion investment in renewable

energy generationenergy generation• $20 Billion in sales of biomass $20 Billion in sales of biomass • $1.6 Billion in lease payments to site $1.6 Billion in lease payments to site

wind generatorswind generators• $7 Billion in property taxes$7 Billion in property taxes• Reduce demand and price for non-Reduce demand and price for non-

renewable energyrenewable energy

Consequences and ImpactsConsequences and Impacts

Deriving 20% of energy needs from Deriving 20% of energy needs from renewable sources would:renewable sources would:• Reduce carbon emissions 18% by 2020Reduce carbon emissions 18% by 2020• Save consumers due to lower natural Save consumers due to lower natural

gas billsgas bills

Source: Source: http://www.ucsusa.org/clean_energy/renhttp://www.ucsusa.org/clean_energy/renewable_energy/page.cfm?pageIDewable_energy/page.cfm?pageID=45=45

Consequences and ImpactsConsequences and Impacts

10 % reliance on Renewable Energy 10 % reliance on Renewable Energy Sources would:Sources would:• Leave electricity prices about the sameLeave electricity prices about the same• Reduce demand and price of natural gasReduce demand and price of natural gas• Reduce energy costs by $13.6 Billion Reduce energy costs by $13.6 Billion

between 2002 and 2020between 2002 and 2020Source: DOE Energy Information Agency, Source: DOE Energy Information Agency,

20022002http://http://

www.ucsusa.org/publication.cfm?publicatiwww.ucsusa.org/publication.cfm?publicationIDonID=640=640

Energy Policy Education ToolsEnergy Policy Education Tools

Clean Power Profiler:Clean Power Profiler:http://www.epa.gov/cleanenergy/http://www.epa.gov/cleanenergy/

powerprofiler.htmpowerprofiler.htmGreen Power Locator: Green Power Locator: http://www.epa.gov/greenpower/http://www.epa.gov/greenpower/

locator.htmllocator.htmlEnergy Quest:Energy Quest:http://www.energyquest.ca.gov/http://www.energyquest.ca.gov/

index.htmlindex.html

General ResourcesGeneral Resources

Oak Ridge National Laboratory: Oak Ridge National Laboratory: • http://bioenergy.ornl.gov/http://bioenergy.ornl.gov/

Best Practice Policies and Measure: Best Practice Policies and Measure: • http://unfccc.int/resource/docs/natc/pam/http://unfccc.int/resource/docs/natc/pam/

usapamn3.pdfusapamn3.pdf International Energy Agency Bioenergy International Energy Agency Bioenergy

site: site: • http://www.ieabioenergy.com/http://www.ieabioenergy.com/

Renewable Energy Policy Project: Renewable Energy Policy Project: • http://solstice.crest.org/http://solstice.crest.org/