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The environmental and economic effects of regional bioenergy policy in the southeastern U.S

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  • Galik, Christopher S.
  • Abt, Robert C.
  • Latta, Gregory
  • Vegh, Tibor

Abstract

The unique generation, landownership, and resource attributes of the southeastern United States make the region an important test bed for implementation of novel renewable energy policy interventions. This study evaluates the environmental and economic implications of one such intervention, a hypothetical region-wide renewable portfolio standard (RPS) with biomass carve-outs. It utilizes the Forest and Agriculture Sector Optimization Model with Greenhouse Gases (FASOMGHG) to assess the multi-sector and interregional allocation of forest harvest activity, and then uses the Sub-Regional Timber Supply (SRTS) model to assess intraregional variation in forest composition and greenhouse gas (GHG) mitigation potential. The analysis finds that existing resource conditions influence the regional distribution of land use and harvest changes, resulting in a spatially and temporally diverse forest carbon response. Net forest carbon in the Southeast is greater in the RPS Scenario than in the No RPS Scenario in all but the final years of the model run. Accounting for displaced fossil emissions yields net GHG reductions in all time periods. Both research methodology and findings are also applicable to a broader suite of domestic and international policies, including European Union renewable energy initiatives and GHG mitigation under Section 111 of the U.S. Clean Air Act.

Suggested Citation

  • Galik, Christopher S. & Abt, Robert C. & Latta, Gregory & Vegh, Tibor, 2015. "The environmental and economic effects of regional bioenergy policy in the southeastern U.S," Energy Policy, Elsevier, vol. 85(C), pages 335-346.
    • Handle: RePEc:eee:enepol:v:85:y:2015:i:c:p:335-346
    DOI: 10.1016/j.enpol.2015.05.018
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    References listed on IDEAS

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    5. Galik, Christopher S. & Abt, Robert C. & Latta, Gregory & Méley, Andréanne & Henderson, Jesse D., 2016. "Meeting renewable energy and land use objectives through public–private biomass supply partnerships," Applied Energy, Elsevier, vol. 172(C), pages 264-274.
    6. Weiwei Wang, 2022. "Agricultural and Forestry Biomass for Meeting the Renewable Fuel Standard: Implications for Land Use and GHG Emissions," Energies, MDPI, vol. 15(23), pages 1-21, November.
    7. Fan, Junming & Hong, Hui & Zhu, Lin & Jiang, Qiongqiong & Jin, Hongguang, 2017. "Thermodynamic and environmental evaluation of biomass and coal co-fuelled gasification chemical looping combustion with CO2 capture for combined cooling, heating and power production," Applied Energy, Elsevier, vol. 195(C), pages 861-876.
    8. Miguel Riviere & Sylvain Caurla, 2020. "Representations of the Forest Sector in Economic Models [Les représentations du secteur forestier dans les modèles économiques]," Post-Print hal-03088084, HAL.
    9. Henderson, Jesse D. & Parajuli, Rajan & Abt, Robert C., 2020. "Biological and market responses of pine forests in the US Southeast to carbon fertilization," Ecological Economics, Elsevier, vol. 169(C).

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