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An Economic Evaluation of US Biofuel Expansion Using the Biofuel Breakeven Program with GHG Accounting

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  • Rosburg, Alicia
  • Miranowski, John

Abstract

We present results from an application of the Biofuel Breakeven program (BioBreak) to 14 US cellulosic ethanol markets that vary by feedstock and location. BioBreak estimates the economic costs of cellulosic biofuel production for each market and identifies the necessary conditions to sustain long-run markets. Based on current market conditions, our results suggest that long-run cellulosic ethanol production is not sustainable without significant government intervention or high long-run oil prices ($135-$170 per barrel). Using life-cycle analysis for cellulosic ethanol and conventional gasoline, we extend the BioBreak program results to derive an implicit value of reduced greenhouse gas emissions embodied in cellulosic ethanol. For the markets considered in our analysis, sustaining cellulosic ethanol production is equivalent to valuing the reduction in CO2 equivalents between $141 and $282 per metric ton.

Suggested Citation

  • Rosburg, Alicia & Miranowski, John, 2013. "An Economic Evaluation of US Biofuel Expansion Using the Biofuel Breakeven Program with GHG Accounting," Staff General Research Papers Archive 36118, Iowa State University, Department of Economics.
    • Handle: RePEc:isu:genres:36118
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    File URL: http://www.agbioforum.org/v14n3/v14n3a03-rosburg.htm
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    Cited by:

    1. Rosburg, Alicia & Miranowski, John & Jacobs, Keri, 2013. "Cellulosic Biofuel Supply with Heterogeneous Biomass Suppliers: An Application to Switchgrass-based Ethanol," Staff General Research Papers Archive 36359, Iowa State University, Department of Economics.
    2. Rosburg, Alicia & Miranowski, John & Jacobs, Keri, 2016. "Modeling biomass procurement tradeoffs within a cellulosic biofuel cost model," Energy Economics, Elsevier, vol. 58(C), pages 77-83.
    3. Rosburg, Alicia & Miranowski, John & McFadden, Jonathan, 2016. "Mitigating Feedstock Supply Risk in Corn Stover Biofuel Production," 2016 Annual Meeting, July 31-August 2, Boston, Massachusetts 235875, Agricultural and Applied Economics Association.

    More about this item

    Keywords

    biofuel; Biofuel policies; biomass; carbon tax; cellulosic ethanol; Greenhouse gas emissions; life-cycle analysis; renewable fuel standard;
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