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Applying Greenhouse Gas Emissions Lifecycle Assessment. Biofuels Policy & Regulatory Issues. Jennifer L. Christensen WISE Intern 2009 August 5, 2009. Agenda. Introduction Renewable Fuels Potential Legislative History EISA Lifecycle GGE Criteria Lifecycle Assessment Methodologies - PowerPoint PPT Presentation
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Biofuels Policy & Regulatory Issues
Applying Greenhouse Gas Emissions Lifecycle Assessment
Jennifer L. ChristensenWISE Intern 2009
August 5, 2009
Agenda
IntroductionRenewable Fuels PotentialLegislative HistoryEISA Lifecycle GGE CriteriaLifecycle Assessment MethodologiesLifecycle Assessment ApplicationEPA Proposed Rule IssuesEPA RecommendationsFederal Government
Recommendations
Introduction What is the current global environmental crisis?
Global warming and climate change What can we do about it?
Reduce Greenhouse Gas Emissions (GGE) Capitalize on GGE reduction potential in
transportation sector▪ 29% of total U.S. GGE in 2006
Renewable Fuels PotentialCurrent Transportation Fuel:
Gasoline & Diesel▪ Non-renewable: Fossil Fuel
Feedstock▪ Significant Environmental Impacts
Alternative Transportation Fuel: Biofuels
▪ Renewable: Biomass Feedstock▪ Fewer Potential Environmental Impacts
Legislative History Energy Policy Act (EPAct) of 2005
Created Renewable Fuel Standard (RFS)▪ Mandated volumes maximizing at 7.5 billion gallons in 2012▪ Failed to address sustainability issues regarding increased
biofuel production
Energy Independence and Security Act (EISA) of 2007 Modified RFS program
▪ Increased mandated volumes to 36 billion gallons in 2022▪ Addressed sustainability issues
▪ Defined renewable biomass▪ Defined four biofuel categories depending on lifecycle GGE
thresholds
EISA Lifecycle GGE Criteria
Lifecycle GGE Baseline: 2005 average of gasoline and diesel transportation
fuels
Biofuel Category
Feedstock Definition
Lifecycle GGE Reduction
CriteriaConventional Corn-based ethanol New: 20%
Preexisting: None
CellulosicDerived from
cellulose, hemicellulose, or
lignin60%
Biomass-based Biodiesel _ 50%
Advanced Anything other than conventional 50%
Lifecycle Assessment MethodologiesDeveloped to assess the
environmental impacts of a product or process from “cradle-to-grave”
Included phases: Primary or
direct Secondary or
indirectSource: “Biomass Program,” United States, Department of Energy, Energy Efficiency & Renewable Energy, 2009, 29 July 2009 <http://www1.eere.energy.gov/biomass/>.
Lifecycle Assessment ApplicationEnvironmental Protection Agency
(EPA) Applied four steps of lifecycle
assessment Issued proposed rule in May 2009
Goal Definition & Scoping
InventoryAnalysis
Impact Assessme
ntInterpretati
on
Source: United States, Environmental Protection Agency, Office of Research and Development, National Risk Management Research Laboratory, Life Cycle Assessment: Principles and Practice, By Scientific Applications International Corporation, May 2006: 4, 29 July 2009 <http://www.epa.gov/ORD/NRMRL/lcaccess/pdfs/600r06060.pdf>.
Standardization Issues
General Lifecycle Assessment Standards: International Organization for Standardization
(ISO)▪ ISO 14040:2006
Biofuel Specific Lifecycle Assessment Standards: None; however,
▪ Global Bioenergy Partnership▪ Roundtable on Sustainable Biofuels▪ ISO committee for sustainable bioenergy
Scoping Issues Biofuels Pathway:
Mandated inclusion of significant indirect emissions▪ Indirect land use change
Compared future scenarios in 2022▪ Reference Scenario: Business-as-Usual▪ Control Scenario: EISA 2022 mandate volume
Analyzed marginal impact of increased biofuel production
Petroleum Baseline Pathway: Mandated 2005 average for gasoline and diesel
▪ Direct emissions, but not indirect emissions Did not analyze impact of increased biofuel
production on petroleum market
Equity Issues Fuel Equity
Inconsistent application of lifecycle assessment methodologies
Trade Equity American farmer vs.
International farmer
Commodity Equity Inconsistent mandates
across commodity markets
Source: Zia Haq, personal interview, 24 July 2009.
Modeling Issues
Direct Emissions: Depend on scientific models
▪ Relatively straightforward▪ Argonne National Laboratory’s GREET model
Indirect Emissions: Depend on economic, as well as
scientific models▪ Unprecedented need to simulate changes in
domestic and international agricultural sector▪ Utilized a piecemeal approach of preexisting
models
Federal Government Recommendations Regarding RFS lifecycle GGE
criteria: Change petroleum baseline from
2005 average to allow for marginal comparison
Streamline other incentive programs to fund second and third generation biofuels
Regarding future policy decisions: Utilize lifecycle assessment methodologies
to make better rounded policy decisions Request National Academies of Science to
conduct report on this utilization
EPA RecommendationsRegarding EISA final rule:
Issue a statement addressing equity issue of comparing marginal biofuel impacts to average petroleum impacts
Continue to include indirect emissions in biofuel pathways according to scientific reasoning
Enhance modeling capability to reduce uncertainty▪ Use scientific judgment on model assumptions▪ Guard against preconceived policy initiatives to define
certain assumptions
EPA Recommendations
Regarding future application of lifecycle assessment methodologies: Partner with national & international
stakeholders Partner with fellow agencies
▪ Department of Energy & U.S. Department of Agriculture
Partner with American National Standards Institute to develop international standards
Questions
Other Issues: Time Horizon & Discount Method
Source: United States, Environmental Protection Agency, Office of Transportation and Air Quality, Assessment and Standards Division, Draft Regulatory Impact Analysis: Changes to Renewable Fuel Standard Program May 2009: 405, 28 July 2009 <http://www.epa.gov/otaq/renewablefuels/420d09001.pdf>.