May 28, 2009

The issue of Indirect Land Use Concept (iLUC) as it relates to biofuels has become a reality in the United States as a result of a decision by the California Air Resources Board (CARB) and the release of a Notice of Proposed Rule Making by the US Environmental Protection Agency that also includes the iLUC as part of the process of determining the Full Fuel Cycle Carbon Footprint (FFCFF) of biofuels covered by the Energy Independence and Security Act of 2007 (EISA).

Legislation has been introduced by the Chairman of the House Agriculture Committee to remove the iLUC, and transfer the implementation of the EISA to the Departments of Agriculture and Energy. It is unlikely that this will happen, but it is probable that the iLUC will be limited in its impact on land use in the United States.

President Obama has clearly indicated his support for ethanol and other biofuels made from crops like corn. "My administration is committed to moving as quickly as possible to commercialize an array of emerging cellulosic technologies so that tomorrow's biofuels will be produced from sustainable biomass feedstocks and waste materials rather than corn.” He added, “But this transition will be successful only if the first-generation biofuels industry remains viable in the near term"

In the United States, it is most probable that the biofuels industries will continue to enjoy the support of the Obama Administration and the Congress as long as we respect the concept of the iLUC and take all reasonable steps to reduce the FFCCF of all biofuels while enhancing the environment, wildlife habitat and all natural systems.

The biofuels sector is the first industry forced to deal with indirect land use. We must do so while in competition with fossil fuel industries that exercise their land use carbon footprint narrowly defined in the US, while exercising control over the fuels marketplace to their advantage. The biopower and biothermal energy industries will soon face similar challenges. Therefore, we in the bioenergy sectors must rise to that challenge and provide leadership in reducing our FFCCF.

In the US, the Biomass Coordinating Council (BCC) is gearing up to help.

Biofuels, biopower and biothermal industries must provide national and international leadership in five areas:
1.    Insist on best available science and modeling technologies to ensure that methodologies applied in determining the FFCCF, including indirect land use factors, are applied uniformly for all transportation fuels – fossil and renewable; and, in due course, for all fuels used to produce power and thermal energy. Externalities such as public health factors to be finally included, taking the lead from indirect land use.
2.    Advance science and technology to minimize the FFCCF in the production of biomass feedstocks to include ever more productive seeds; optimized farming and tilling practices; biological and natural fertilizers; biofuels use in farm vehicles and equipment using advanced engine technology; and, advanced harvesting, transportation and storage systems.
3.    Maximize the efficiency of the conversion technologies producing biofuels, biopower and biothermal energy; and minimize the use of fossil fuels in these processes. Continue the advance of integrated systems to boost productivity and varieties of products, thereby increasing efficiencies, product diversity and profitability.
4.    Pursue major opportunities to put hundreds of millions of acres of lands, forests and woodlots to use which are currently suffering from infestations, overgrowth, contamination, misuse or under-use, or are under railroad, power line, highway and road rights of way.  Bringing these lands into productive use will benefit society in general, in addition to improving wildlife, nature preserves, watersheds, wetlands and riparian buffers.
5.    Employ selected non-threatening prisoners and youth at risk to work these lands following the model of the Civilian Conservation Corps that was so successful in restoring the health of the forest and the workers before WWII. They would be working under the supervision of qualified, foresters, fish and wildlife, soil and water experts, and managed by selected veterans with demonstrated leadership abilities.  Americorps, Job Corps and State Youth Conservation programs could be adjusted to accommodate these important opportunities.

The BCC’s Role:
The formation of action committees organized to better serve our members. There will be ten such committees: Biofuels; Biopower; Biothermal; Smart Grid; Fast Growing Trees, Biochar, Mineralized Compost and Biobased Fertilizers; Sustainable Biomass Development; Research and Development; Wildlife and Natural Systems; Real Food Campaign; Intergovernmental Relations; Climate Change; Communications, and National, Energy and Homeland Security.
   
-    Conferences, interim meetings, conference calls, Webinars, informational and “call to action” emails.
-    BCC and ACORE web pages and our Bioenergywiki are our tools to support the committees and the members.

To best serve the biomass community, the BCC is focused on two major operational parameters now being factored into the advancement of all biomass industries:
1.    Citing the continued global food crisis, The Agricultural Ministers from the G8 recently called for increased public and private investment in agriculture at the conclusion of their summit in Italy earlier this week.  Recent forecasts indicate a minimum of 185 million acres of crop land need to be brought into production globally in the next decade - roughly 3 times that of the last ten years.
2.    Indirect land use has become a major factor in determining the FFCCF of biofuels. It is likely that biopower and biothermal energy will also be subject to this determination.

Bill Holmberg
Chair
Biomass Coordinating Council