Regulation of Fuels and Fuel Additives: Renewable Fuel Standard ...
Regulation of Fuels and Fuel Additives: Renewable Fuel Standard ...
Regulation of Fuels and Fuel Additives: Renewable Fuel Standard ...
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exclusively on corn as a feedstock. As for the remaining plants: two would rely on both<br />
corn <strong>and</strong> milo, one would process molasses <strong>and</strong> sweet sorghum, <strong>and</strong> the last would start<br />
<strong>of</strong>f processing corn <strong>and</strong> then transition into processing bagasse, rice hulls, <strong>and</strong> wood.<br />
Under the Energy Act, the RFS program requires that 250 million gallons <strong>of</strong> the<br />
renewable fuel consumed in 2013 <strong>and</strong> beyond meet the definition <strong>of</strong> cellulosic biomass<br />
ethanol. As discussed in Section III.B.1, the Act defines cellulosic biomass ethanol as<br />
ethanol derived from any lignocellulosic or hemicellulosic matter that is available on a<br />
renewable or recurring basis including dedicated energy crops <strong>and</strong> trees, wood <strong>and</strong> wood<br />
residues, plants, grasses, agricultural residues, fibers, animal wastes <strong>and</strong> other waste<br />
materials, <strong>and</strong> municipal solid waste. The term also includes any ethanol produced in<br />
facilities where animal or other waste materials are digested or otherwise used to displace<br />
90 percent <strong>of</strong> more <strong>of</strong> the fossil fuel normally used in the production <strong>of</strong> ethanol.<br />
Of the 60 forecasted plants, only one is expected to meet the definition <strong>of</strong><br />
“cellulosic biomass ethanol” based on feedstocks. The planned 108 MMgal/yr facility<br />
would start <strong>of</strong>f processing corn <strong>and</strong> then transition into processing bagasse, rice hulls, <strong>and</strong><br />
wood (cellulosic feedstocks). It is unclear as to whether this facility would be processing<br />
cellulosic material by 2013, however there are several other facilities that could<br />
potentially meet the Act's definition <strong>of</strong> cellulosic ethanol based on plant energy sources.<br />
In total, there are seven ethanol plants that burn or plan to burn renewable feedstocks to<br />
generate steam for their processes. As shown in Table VI.A.1-2, two existing plants burn<br />
renewable feedstocks. One plant burns a combination <strong>of</strong> coal <strong>and</strong> biomass <strong>and</strong> the other<br />
burns syrup from the production process. Together these existing plants have a combined<br />
ethanol production capacity <strong>of</strong> 99 MMgal/yr. Additionally, there are four under<br />
construction ethanol plants which plan to burn renewable fuels. One plant plans to burn a<br />
combination <strong>of</strong> coal <strong>and</strong> biomass, two plants plan to rely on manure/syngas, <strong>and</strong> the other<br />
plans to start up burning natural gas <strong>and</strong> then transition to biomass. Together these under<br />
construction facilities have a combined ethanol production capacity <strong>of</strong> 87 MMgal/yr.<br />
Finally, a planned 275 MMgal/yr ethanol production facility plans to burn a combination<br />
<strong>of</strong> coal, tires, <strong>and</strong> biomass. Depending on how much fossil fuel is displaced by these<br />
renewable feedstocks (on a plant-by-plant basis), a portion or all <strong>of</strong> the aforementioned<br />
ethanol production (up to 461 MMgal/yr) could potentially qualify as “cellulosic biomass<br />
ethanol” under the Act. Combined with the 108 MMgal/yr plant planning to process<br />
renewable feedstocks, the total cellulosic potential could be as high as 569 MMgal/yr in<br />
2013. Even if only half <strong>of</strong> this ethanol were to end up qualifying as cellulosic biomass<br />
ethanol, it would still be more than enough to satisfy the Act’s cellulosic requirement<br />
(250 million gallons) 41 .<br />
41 We anticipate a ramp-up in cellulosic ethanol production in the years to come so that capacity exists to<br />
satisfy the 2013 Act's requirement (250 million gallons <strong>of</strong> cellulosic biomass ethanol). Therefore, for<br />
subsequent analysis purposes, we have assumed that 250 million gallons <strong>of</strong> ethanol would come from<br />
cellulosic biomass sources by 2012.<br />
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