Progress 03/01/08 to 09/30/13
Outputs
Target Audience: One of the objectives of the Biobased Energy Research and Information Exchange Committee is to strengthen partnerships between research and extension professionals, industry partners, end users, government agencies, policymakers, and other effected parties. Each of these categories of individuals represents a link in the chain of research, development, and dissemination of the production, information, and policy for biobased energy. Members of the committee have worked to develop and strengthen targeted partnerships through workshops, publications, presentations, and other communications. Changes/Problems:
Nothing Reported
What opportunities for training and professional development has the project provided? The bootcamps listed above also provided training and professional development opportunities. One of the specific goals of the bootcamps was to provide graduate students working on biofuel projects an open forum to present their work and receive feedback from a number of colleagues from across the nation. How have the results been disseminated to communities of interest? The results of the project have been disseminated to communities of interest in a variety of ways. For the academic community, the members of the team have written journal articles appearing in AgBioForum, Energy Policy, Agronomy Journal, Energy, American Journal of Agricultural Economics, Green, and Biomass and Bioenergy. Written pieces for lay audiences have appeared as working papers, staff reports, and/or policy briefs from the Center for Agricultural and Rural Development. The members of the projects have also been available to reporters for popular press pieces. Dr. Hart led our extension efforts and provided a number of extension presentations on biofuel research around the country. What do you plan to do during the next reporting period to accomplish the goals?
Nothing Reported
Impacts
What was accomplished under these goals?
The objectives of the Committee have been accomplished via a variety of approaches. Information exchanges and partnership development was the major focus of the "bootcamp" workshops led by Dr. Bushnell during his time on the project. Several paper and grant ideas were started from those workshops. Partnership ties outside of academia were established and/or strengthened during the Advanced Biofuels workshop, led by Dr. Babcock. These efforts continue to pay dividends as follow-up work continues from several of the partnerships established during this project. Dr. Hart led extension efforts on biofuel markets and impacts, development of alternative feedstocks, and biofuel policy. Dr. Babcock continues to serve as one of thirty experts across academia, industry, and governmental institutions to participate in a workgroup to guide the California Air Resources Board, an institution within the California Environmental Protection Agency, as they develop policies for California's Low Carbon Fuel Standard. Dr. Babcock's former center, the Center for Agricultural and Rural Development, continues to work with UNICA, the Brazilian sugarcane industry association, to explore various governmental policies for the U.S. ethanol industry. This research is being used to shape policy debates within the U.S. and Brazil as both countries look to expand biofuel production and trade. Following the conclusion of the Biobased Industry Center's bioenergy bootcamps over the past couple of years, several academic teams, with individuals at various universities, have been assembled to pursue bioenergy and climate change research and outreach grants from USDA and NSF. Some of those collaborations were incorporated into successful grant applications for sustainable bioenergy. Drs. Raman and Hart are part of the CenUSA team, exploring perennial grass development and potential as a bioenergy source. Dr. Babcock serves as the energy policy platform leader for the Iowa NSF EPSCoR program. Dr. Miranowski has served on the National Academies' Biofuels committee for the past several years. The committee has hosted a number of meetings on biofuel issues.
Publications
- Type:
Other
Status:
Published
Year Published:
2013
Citation:
Babcock, Bruce A. and Wei Zhou. November 2013. Impact on Corn Prices from Reduced Biofuel Mandates. CARD Working Paper 13-WP 543.
- Type:
Other
Status:
Published
Year Published:
2013
Citation:
Babcock, Bruce A. and Sebastien Pouliot. November 2013. How Much E85 Can Be Consumed in the United States? CARD Policy Brief 13-PB 15.
- Type:
Other
Status:
Published
Year Published:
2013
Citation:
Babcock, Bruce A. and Sebastien Pouliot. November 2013. The Economic Role of RIN Prices. CARD Policy Brief 13-PB 14.
- Type:
Other
Status:
Published
Year Published:
2013
Citation:
Babcock, Bruce A. September 2013. RFS Compliance Costs and Incentives to Invest in Ethanol Infrastructure. CARD Policy Brief 13-PB 13.
- Type:
Other
Status:
Published
Year Published:
2013
Citation:
Babcock, Bruce A. and Sebastien Pouliot. August 2013. Impact of Sales Constraints and Entry on E85 Demand. CARD Policy Brief 13-PB 12.
- Type:
Other
Status:
Published
Year Published:
2013
Citation:
Babcock, Bruce A. and Sebastien Pouliot. August 2013. Price It and They Will Buy: How E85 Can Break the Blend Wall. CARD Policy Brief 13-PB 11.
- Type:
Other
Status:
Published
Year Published:
2013
Citation:
Babcock, Bruce A., Marcelo Moreira, and Yixing Peng. May 2013. Biofuel Taxes, Subsidies, and Mandates: Impacts on US and Brazilian Markets. CARD Staff Report 13-SR 108.
- Type:
Other
Status:
Published
Year Published:
2013
Citation:
Rosburg, Alicia, John Miranowski, and Keri Jacobs. August 2013. Cellulosic Biofuel Potential under Land Constraints: Locations, Plant Sizes and Feedstock Supply Costs. ISU Economics Working Paper #13014.
- Type:
Other
Status:
Published
Year Published:
2013
Citation:
Rosburg, Alicia, John Miranowski, and Keri Jacobs. August 2013. Cellulosic Biofuel Supply with Heterogeneous Biomass Suppliers: An Application to Switchgrass-based Ethanol. ISU Economics Working Paper #13015.
- Type:
Journal Articles
Status:
Published
Year Published:
2013
Citation:
Miranowski, John, and Alicia Rosburg. 2013. Long-term Biofuel Projections under Different Oil Price Scenarios. AgBioForum 15(4):1-9.
- Type:
Other
Status:
Published
Year Published:
2013
Citation:
Babcock, Bruce A. and Sebastien Pouliot. November 2013. RFS Compliance: Death Spiral or Investment in E85? CARD Policy Brief 13-PB 16.
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Progress 01/01/12 to 12/31/12
Outputs
OUTPUTS: Dr. Babcock, as the director of the Biobased Industry Center at Iowa State University, organized a one day conference for academic researchers, industry representatives, and government employees working on biobased energy production. The conference explored the policy and science behind advanced biofuels and the Renewable Fuels Standard. The conference featured speakers from the U.S. Department of Energy, biofuel manufacturers, an automotive manufacturer, and Iowa State University. Dr. Raman serves as the Associate Director for Educational Program for the Bioeconomy Institute at Iowa State University. Iowa State established the first graduate program in biorenewable resources and offers Master and Doctoral degrees, along with an option for a minor. Dr. Hart led extension sessions for agricultural lenders and extension educators in Iowa. The sessions explored the market forces and government policies that are shaping biofuel development. Drs. Babcock, Hart, Munkvold, Miranowski, and Raman have led research efforts to examine bioenergy production, consumption, and policy. This research has resulted in several publications listed in "Publications" section of this report. The Biobased Industry Center also sponsors original research on bioenergy development. Research efforts being funded during the 2012 calendar year can be viewed at http://biobasedindustrycenter.iastate.edu/research/. PARTICIPANTS: The Biobased Industry Center hosted a workshop in June 2012. Nearly 40 government staffers and industry representatives attended the event. Attendees came from the U.S. Department of Energy, DuPont, Catchlight Energy LLC, DSM-POET, Virent, Amryis, Ceres, and Toyota. Roughly 50 agricultural lenders participated in an bioenergy informational session at the Agricultural Credit School, held at Iowa State University. Twelve extension educators participated in a biofuel educational session during the Fall 2012 Iowa State University Extension Farm Management In-Service. Dr. Hart conducted six extension sessions related to bioenergy production and usage at various locations across Iowa. Roughly 500 people attended these sessions and the audience covered a wide cross-section of the general public. TARGET AUDIENCES: One of the objectives of the Biobased Energy Research and Information Exchange Committee is to strengthen partnerships between research and extension professionals, industry partners, end users, government agencies, policymakers, and other effected parties. Each of these categories of individuals represents a link in the chain of research, development, and dissemination of the production, information, and policy for biobased energy. Members of the Committee have worked to develop and strengthen targeted partnerships through workshops, publications, presentations, and other communications. PROJECT MODIFICATIONS: None.
Impacts
Thirty Congressional and U.S. federal agency staffers attended the Biobased Industry Center's conference in Washington D.C. The event allowed government staffers, industry representatives, and academics discuss scientific and policy issues that surround the Renewable Fuels Standard. Dr. Babcock continues to serve as one of thirty experts across academia, industry, and governmental institutions to participate in a workgroup to guide the California Air Resources Board, an institution within the California Environmental Protection Agency, as they develop policies for California's Low Carbon Fuel Standard. Dr. Babcock's former center, the Center for Agricultural and Rural Development, continues to work with UNICA, the Brazilian sugarcane industry association, to explore various governmental policies for the U.S. ethanol industry. This research is being used to shape policy debates within the U.S. and Brazil as both countries look to expand biofuel production and trade. Following the conclusion of the Biobased Industry Center's bioenergy bootcamps over the past couple of years, several academic teams, with individuals at various universities, have been assembled to pursue bioenergy and climate change research and outreach grants from USDA and NSF. Some of those collaborations were incorporated into successful grant applications for sustainable bioenergy. Drs. Raman and Hart are part of the CenUSA team, exploring perennial grass development and potential as a bioenergy source. Dr. Babcock serves as the energy policy platform leader for the Iowa NSF EPSCoR program. Dr. Miranowski has served on the National Academies' Biofuels committee for the past several years. The committee has hosted a number of meetings on biofuel issues.
Publications
- Babcock, Bruce A. December 2012. Outlook for Ethanol and Conventional Biofuel RINs in 2013 and 2014. CARD Policy Brief 12-PB 9.
- Babcock, Bruce A. August 2012. Updated Assessment of the Drought's Impacts on Crop Prices and Biofuel Production. CARD Policy Brief 12-PB 8.
- Babcock, Bruce A. and Miguel Carriquiry. June 2012. Prospects for Corn Ethanol in Argentina. CARD Staff Report 12-SR 107.
- Christiansen, Katrina L., D. Raj Raman, and Robert P. Anex. 2012. Predicting Cost Growth and Performance of First-Generation Algal Production Systems. Energy Policy 51(2012):382-391.
- Cruse, Michael J., Matt Leibman, D. Raj Raman, and Mary H. Wiedenhoeft. 2012. Fossil Energy Use in Conventional and Low-External-Input Cropping Systems. Agronomy Journal 104(2012):1198-1199.
- Haen, Karri M., D. Raj Raman, Elena Polush, and Mari Kemis. 2012. Training the Next Generation of Creative, Innovative and Adaptive Scientists and Engineers: The NSF Engineering Research Center for Biorenewable Chemicals (CBiRC) Research Experience for Undergraduates. Education for Chemical Engineers 7(2012):e230-e240.
- Hart, Chad, Daniel Otto, and Michael Hudak. May 2012. Economic Impacts of the Ethanol Industry. Published by the Community Vitality Center at Iowa State University.
- Miller, Elizabeth, Mindy L. Mallory, Kathy Baylis, and Chad Hart. August 12-14, 2012. Basis Effects of Ethanol Plants in the U.S. Corn Belt. Selected paper presented at the Agricultural and Applied Economics Association's 2012 AAEA Annual Meeting, Seattle, Washington.
- Murphy, Patrick T., Kenneth J. Moore, D. Raj Raman, Robert P. Anex, and Steven L. Fales. 2012. Rapid Biomass Quality Determination of Corn Stover Using Near-Infrared Reflectance Spectroscopy. BioEnergy Research 5(2012):79-85.
- Raman, D. Raj and Robert P. Anex. 2012. Conceptual and Mathematical Models of Batch Simultaneous Saccharification and Fermentation: Dimensionless Groups for Predicting Process Dynamics. Journal of Biological Systems 20(2012):195-211.
- Jarboe, Darren H. and D. Raj Raman. 2012. Student Perspectives on a New Biomass Production Module for Fundamentals of Biorenewable Resources. Published by the American Society of Agricultural and Biological Engineers.
- McPhail, Lihong Lu and Bruce A. Babcock. 2012. Impact of U.S. Biofuel Policy on U.S. Corn and Gasoline Price Variability. Energy 37(2012):505-513.
- Miao, Ruiqing, David A. Hennessy, and Bruce A. Babcock. 2012. Investment in Cellulosic Biofuel Refineries: Do Waivable Biofuel Mandates Matter American Journal of Agricultural Economics 94(2012):750-762.
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Progress 01/01/11 to 12/31/11
Outputs
OUTPUTS: Dr. Jim Bushnell (a now former member of our team), as the director of the Biobased Industry Center at Iowa State University, organized a "bioenergy bootcamp" for academic researchers, industry representatives, and government employees working on biobased energy production. The camp included multiple research presentations and networking opportunities for the participants. Dr. Chad Hart led extension sessions for agricultural lenders and extension educators in Iowa. The sessions explored the market forces and government policies that are shaping biofuel development. Drs. Bruce Babcock, Gary Munkvold, and John Miranowski have led research efforts to examine bioenergy production, consumption, and policy. This research has resulted in several publications listed in "Publications" section of this report. The Biobased Industry Center, now under the leadership of Dr. Bruce Babcock, also sponsors original research on bioenergy development. Research efforts being funded during the 2011 calendar year can be viewed at http://www.biorenew.iastate.edu/bic/research/current.html and http://biobasedindustrycenter.iastate.edu/research/current/. PARTICIPANTS: Iowa State University's Biobased Industry Center hosted its four day bioenergy bootcamp in May 2011. As in years before, over 40 researchers attended the event. The attendees came from academia (Iowa State, Michigan, Northwestern, Michigan State, North Carolina-Greensboro, Illinois, Cornell, North Carolina State, Columbia, and UCLA), industry, and government. Nearly 50 agricultural lenders participated in a bioenergy informational session at the Agricultural Credit School, held at Iowa State University. Twelve extension educators participated in a biofuel educational session during the Fall 2011 Iowa State University Extension Farm Management In-Service. Dr. Chad Hart conducted eight extension sessions related to bioenergy production and usage at various locations across Iowa. Roughly 400 people attended these sessions and the audience covered a wide cross-section of the general public. TARGET AUDIENCES: One of the objectives of the Biobased Energy Research and Information Exchange Committee is to strengthen partnerships between research and extension professionals, industry partners, end users, government agencies, policymakers, and other affected parties. Each of these categories of individuals represents a link in the chain of research, development, and dissemination of the production, information, and policy for biobased energy. Members of the committee have worked to develop and strengthen targeted partnerships through workshops, publications, presentations, and other communications PROJECT MODIFICATIONS: Nothing significant to report during this reporting period.
Impacts
Based on his research efforts in bioenergy, Dr. Bruce Babcock was selected to lead the Biobased Industry Center at Iowa State University. He also continues to serve as one of thirty experts across academia, industry, and governmental institutions to participate in a workgroup to guide the California Air Resources Board, an institution within the California Environmental Protection Agency, as they develop policies for California's Low Carbon Fuel Standard. Dr. Babcock's former center, the Center for Agricultural and Rural Development, continues to work with UNICA, the Brazilian sugarcane industry association, to explore various governmental policies for the U.S. ethanol industry. This research is being used to shape policy debates within the U.S. and Brazil as both countries look to expand biofuel production and trade. Following the conclusion of the bioenergy bootcamps over the past couple of years, several academic teams, with individuals at various universities, have been assembled to pursue bioenergy and climate change research and outreach grants from USDA and NSF. Some of those collaborations were incorporated into a successful grant application under USDA-NIFA for sustainable bioenergy. Dr. John Miranowski has served on the National Academies' Biofuels committee for the past several years. The committee has hosted a number of meetings on biofuel issues.
Publications
- Tun-Hsiang Yu, Chad Hart, and Wen You. 2011. Evaluating Food-Fuel Trade-Offs Via Market Choice: The Case of Iowa Corn Producers. Green: The International Journal of Sustainable Energy Conversion and Storage 1:123-126.
- Silvia Secchi, Lyubov Kurkalova, Philip W. Gassman, and Chad Hart. 2011. Land Use Change in a Biofuels Hotspot: The Case of Iowa, USA. Biomass and Bioenergy 35(2011):2391-2400.
- Amani Elobeid, Miguel Carriquiry, Jacinto F. Fabiosa, Kranti Mulik, Dermot J. Hayes, Bruce A. Babcock, Jerome Dumortier, and Francisco Rosas. June 2011. Greenhouse Gas and Nitrogen Fertilizer Scenarios for U.S. Agriculture and Global Biofuels. CARD Working Paper 11-WP 524.
- Bruce A. Babcock and Jacinto F. Fabiosa. April 2011. The Impact of Ethanol and Ethanol Subsidies on Corn Prices: Revisiting History. CARD Briefing Paper 11-PB 5.
- Alicia Rosburg and John Miranowski. 2011. An Economic Evaluation of U.S. Biofuel Expansion Using the Biofuel Breakeven Program with GHG Accounting. AgBioForum 14:111-119.
- John Miranowski, Alicia Rosburg, and J. Aukayanagul. 2011. U.S. Maize Yield Growth Implications for Ethanol and Greenhouse Gas Emissions. AgBioForum 14, 120-132.
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Progress 01/01/10 to 12/31/10
Outputs
OUTPUTS: Dr. Bushnell, as the director of the Biobased Industry Center at Iowa State University, organized a Bioenergy Bootcamp for academic researchers, industry representatives, and government employees working on biobased energy production. The camp included twelve research presentations, an ethanol plant tour, and networking opportunities for the participants. Dr. Hart led extension sessions for agricultural lenders and extension educators in Iowa. The sessions explored the market forces and government policies that are shaping biofuel development. Drs. Babcock, Munkvold, and Miranowski have led research efforts to examine bioenergy production, consumption, and policy. This research has resulted in several publications listed in the Publications section of this report. Dr. Bushnell's center, the Biobased Industry Center, also sponsors original research on bioenergy development. Research efforts being funded during the 2010 calendar year can be viewed at http://www.biorenew.iastate.edu/bic/research/current.html and http://biobasedindustrycenter.iastate.edu/research/current/. PARTICIPANTS: Over 40 individuals attended the four day Bioenergy Bootcamp event hosted by Iowa State University's Biobased Industry Center. The attendees came from academia (Iowa State, Michigan State, Duke, Cornell, University of North Carolina at Greensboro, Colorado, Michigan, Illinois, Minnesota, North Carolina State, University of Chicago, Columbia, Southern Illinois, University of California - Berkeley, Purdue, and Stanford), industry (ADM, Monsanto, Pioneer, Hawkeye Renewables, GM, Toyota, and Iowa Corn Growers), and government (USDA). Nearly fifty agricultural lenders participated in an bioenergy informational session at the Agricultural Credit School, held at Iowa State University. Twelve extension educators participated in a biofuel educational session during the Fall 2010 Iowa State University Extension Farm Management In-Service. TARGET AUDIENCES: One of the objectives of the Biobased Energy Research and Information Exchange Committee is to strengthen partnerships between research and extension professionals, industry partners, end users, government agencies, policy makers, and other affected parties. Each of these categories of individuals represents a link in the chain of research, development, and dissemination of the production, information, and policy for biobased energy. Members of the Committee have worked to develop and strengthen targeted partnerships through workshops, publications, presentations, and other communications. PROJECT MODIFICATIONS: Nothing significant to report during this reporting period.
Impacts
Based on his research efforts in bioenergy, Dr. Babcock was selected as one of thirty experts across academia, industry, and governmental institutions to participate in a workgroup to guide the California Air Resources Board, an institution within the California Environmental Protection Agency, as they develop policies for California's Low Carbon Fuel Standard. Dr. Babcock's center, the Center for Agricultural and Rural Development, received a research grant from UNICA, the Brazilian sugarcane industry association, to explore various governmental policies for the U.S. ethanol industry. This research is being used to shape policy debates within the U.S. and Brazil as both countries look to expand biofuel production and trade. Following the conclusion of the bioenergy bootcamp, several academic teams, with individuals at various universities, have been assembled to pursue bioenergy and climate change research and outreach grants from USDA and NSF.
Publications
- Babcock, B. A. November 2010. Impact on Ethanol, Corn and Livestock from Imminent U.S. Ethanol Policy Decisions. CARD Policy Briefing 10-PB 3.
- Babcock, B. A. March 2010. Mandates, Tax Credits and Tariffs: Does the U.S. Biofuels Industry Need Them All CARD Policy Briefing 10-PB 1.
- Babcock, B. A. July 2010. Kanlaya J. Barr and Miguel Carriquiry. Costs and Benefits to Taxpayers, Consumers, and Producers from U.S. Ethanol Policies. CARD Staff Report 10-SR 106.
- Babcock, Bruce A. and Miguel Carriquiry. February 2010. An Exploration of Certain Aspects of CARB's Approach to Modeling Indirect Land Use from Expanded Biodiesel Production. CARD Staff Report 10-SR 105.
- Bushnell, James. 2010. Building Blocks: Investment in Renewable and Non-Renewable Resources. In Harnessing Renewable Energy in Electric Power Systems. Boaz Moselle, Jorge Padilla, and Richard Schmalansee, Eds. Resources for the Future Press. Washington, DC.
- Feng, Hongli and Chad Hart. December 2009. Willingness to Pay for Surplus Sugar in the United States. Contemporary Economic Policy 28(2010):429-437.
- Hennessy, H., B.A. Babcock, and O. Rubin. 2010. Greenhouse Gas Impacts of Ethanol from Iowa Corn: Life Cycle Assessment Versus System Wide Approach. Biomass and Bioenergy 10.1016/j.biombioe.2010.01.037
- Miao, Ruiqing, David A. Hennessy and Bruce A. Babcock. September 2010. Investment in Cellulosic Biofuel Refineries: Do Renewable Identification Numbers Matter CARD Working Paper 10-WP 514.
- Miranowski, John and Alicia Rosburg. February 2010. An Economic Breakeven Model of Cellulosic Feedstock Production and Ethanol Conversion with Implied Carbon Pricing. Iowa State University, Department of Economics Working Paper WP #10002.
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