Bioenergy for the Consumer Susan Powers, PhD, Clarkson University Scott Gordon, PhD, Green Technologies, LLC Jock Gill, Vermont Grass Energy Collaborative Bill Olsen, St. Lawrence University

Bioenergy for the Consumer Why should I be a consumer of bioenergy? Government programs Sustainability What are the options? What products available – Generally? Locally? Now? Next year? How can I buy and use these products? How can we create demand to help create the supply? How can I help to ensure that this remains a SUSTAINABLE energy supply?

Why should I be a consumer of bioenergy?

Government programs

Sustainability

What are the options?

What products available –

Generally? Locally?

Now? Next year?

How can I buy and use these products?

How can we create demand to help create the supply?

How can I help to ensure that this remains a SUSTAINABLE energy supply?

Why Bioenergy? Biomass is: Abundant Renewable Nearly carbon-neutral A sustainable source of hydrocarbons. Biomass can: Fill the gap between oil demand and supply in the near term. Move regions like ours towards energy independence

Biomass is:

Abundant

Renewable

Nearly carbon-neutral

A sustainable source of hydrocarbons.

Biomass can:

Fill the gap between oil demand and supply in the near term.

Move regions like ours towards energy independence

Bioenergy SYSTEM Financing Transportation Policies / Incentives Incentives Marketing Transportation Distribution system By-products Employment Society Emissions Env. Degradation Environment Feedstock Conversion Technol. product Markets Bioenergy industry

They are telling us to use it… Federal - Energy Policy Act 2005 Energy security / energy independence NYS – 90% transportation fuel imported, 45% from OPEC Renewable fuel standard NYS 25% renewable electricity by 2013 (2.8%)

Federal - Energy Policy Act 2005

Energy security / energy independence

NYS – 90% transportation fuel imported, 45% from OPEC

Renewable fuel standard

NYS

25% renewable electricity by 2013

Bioenergy Product Options Wood Logs Chips Pellets Grass pellets Power From the grid Biofuel Biodiesel Green diesel Ethanol Uses Home heating Transportation Electricity Industrial / institutional heating, combined heat and power

Wood

Logs

Chips

Pellets

Grass pellets

Power

From the grid

Biofuel

Biodiesel

Green diesel

Ethanol

Uses

Home heating

Transportation

Electricity

Industrial / institutional heating, combined heat and power

Bioenergy Consumer Products Wood Logs Chips Pellets Grass pellets Power From the grid Biofuel Biodiesel Green diesel Ethanol Uses Home heating Transportation Electricity Industrial / institutional heating, combined heat and power

Wood

Logs

Chips

Pellets

Grass pellets

Power

From the grid

Biofuel

Biodiesel

Green diesel

Ethanol

Uses

Home heating

Transportation

Electricity

Industrial / institutional heating, combined heat and power

Bioenergy Consumer Products Wood Logs Chips Pellets Grass pellets Power From the grid Biofuel Biodiesel Green diesel Ethanol Uses Home heating Transportation Electricity Industrial / institutional heating, combined heat and power

Wood

Logs

Chips

Pellets

Grass pellets

Power

From the grid

Biofuel

Biodiesel

Green diesel

Ethanol

Uses

Home heating

Transportation

Electricity

Industrial / institutional heating, combined heat and power

Bioenergy Consumer Products Wood Logs Chips Pellets Grass pellets Power From the grid Biofuel Biodiesel Green diesel Ethanol Uses Home heating Transportation Electricity Industrial heating, combined heat and powers

Wood

Logs

Chips

Pellets

Grass pellets

Power

From the grid

Biofuel

Biodiesel

Green diesel

Ethanol

Uses

Home heating

Transportation

Electricity

Industrial heating, combined heat and powers

Bioenergy Consumer Products Wood Logs Chips Pellets Grass pellets Power From the grid Biofuel Biodiesel Green diesel Ethanol Uses Home heating Transportation Electricity Industrial heating, combined heat and powers

Wood

Logs

Chips

Pellets

Grass pellets

Power

From the grid

Biofuel

Biodiesel

Green diesel

Ethanol

Uses

Home heating

Transportation

Electricity

Industrial heating, combined heat and powers

Example Conversion Technologies Wood* Conversion Direct combustion High efficiency combustion Gasification Fermentation Energy Products Heat Combined heat and power Green diesel Ethanol * the “original” bioenergy source; “nature’s oldest renewable energy source” Wide variety in processes can result in a wide range of products; Just like petroleum!

Wood* Conversion

Direct combustion

High efficiency combustion

Gasification

Fermentation

Energy Products

Heat

Combined heat and power

Green diesel

Ethanol

But outdoor wood boilers? OWBs may be among t he dirtiest and least economical modes of h eating Properly operated, OW Bs emit more fine particulate matter pollut ion 4 times more than conve ntional wood stoves, 12 times more than EPA- certified wood stoves, 1000 times more than oil furnaces, 1800 times more than g as furnaces. Fine particulate matter pollution has both short- term and long-term hea lth effects. (Elliot Spitzer, 2005)

OWBs may be among t he dirtiest and least economical modes of h eating

Properly operated, OW Bs emit more fine particulate matter pollut ion

4 times more than conve ntional wood stoves,

12 times more than EPA- certified wood stoves,

1000 times more than oil furnaces,

1800 times more than g as furnaces.

Fine particulate matter pollution has both short- term and long-term hea lth effects.

Economics – Supply and Demand Rural areas Less demand Faced with smaller supply of bioenergy products Example Wood pellets 2006 Many pellet stoves sold but limited supply of pellets Curran Renewable Energy LLC, Massena, proposed wood pellet facility

Rural areas

Less demand

Faced with smaller supply of bioenergy products

Example

Wood pellets 2006

Many pellet stoves sold

but limited supply of pellets

Curran Renewable Energy LLC, Massena, proposed wood pellet facility

Current Biodiesel Supply Biodiesel Fuel Stations Biodiesel Distributors Sprague ( ) Collins Oil ( ) Noco ( ) BD produced in Fulton January 2008 ( )

Biodiesel Fuel Stations

Biodiesel Distributors

Sprague ( )

Collins Oil ( )

Noco ( )

BD produced in Fulton January 2008 ( )

Barry Collins Oil Home Heating oil distributor Dedicated to biodiesel Sells biodiesel / oil blends B5, B20 St. Lawrence, Franklin, Essex, Clinton Co.

Home Heating oil distributor

Dedicated to biodiesel

Sells biodiesel / oil blends B5, B20

St. Lawrence, Franklin, Essex, Clinton Co.

Current Ethanol Supply Ethanol added to gasoline for transportation E10 required as oxygenate in gasoline Planned ethanol production facilities Proposed E85

Ethanol added to gasoline for transportation

E10 required as oxygenate in gasoline

Planned ethanol production facilities

Proposed

Creating the Demand Identify customer base Who is the “consumer”? Advocate for increased use of bioenergy Vote and consume knowledgeably Industries Associated Colleges Fleet Transporters Small Businesses K-12 institutions Home- owner

Identify customer base

Who is the “consumer”?

Advocate for increased use of bioenergy

Vote and consume knowledgeably

The continuing role of politics Pres. Bush and Gov. Pataki Ethanol advocates Mostly corn, some from cellulosics  tax incentives for new production, fuel tax credits Gov. Spitzer “ Spitzer's Silence on Ethanol Fight Speaks Volumes " (April 19, 2007) B-20 tax credit at sale – expires June 30, 2007

Pres. Bush and Gov. Pataki

Ethanol advocates

Mostly corn, some from cellulosics

 tax incentives for new production, fuel tax credits

Gov. Spitzer

“ Spitzer's Silence on Ethanol Fight Speaks Volumes " (April 19, 2007)

B-20 tax credit at sale – expires June 30, 2007

Doing it right SUSTAINABILITY People, prosperity and planet Use bioenergy in a manner that Does not negatively impact human condition Recognizes the limits to the Earth’s capacity to renew itself Concentrates on LOCAL supply and demand as much as possible Conservation most important

SUSTAINABILITY

People, prosperity and planet

Use bioenergy in a manner that

Does not negatively impact human condition

Recognizes the limits to the Earth’s capacity to renew itself

Concentrates on LOCAL supply and demand as much as possible

Conservation most important

Sue’s Opinions on Sustainable Bioenergy in NNY We have a great capacity for forest and dedicated crop biomass production We should expand local resource utilization and bioenergy economy Biomass harvest / growth Biomass conversion Bioenergy product distribution and use We should approach increased utilization of corn-based ethanol very cautiously

We have a great capacity for forest and dedicated crop biomass production

We should expand local resource utilization and bioenergy economy

Biomass harvest / growth

Biomass conversion

Bioenergy product distribution and use

We should approach increased utilization of corn-based ethanol very cautiously

Learning More Tonight Scott Gordon – Biodiesel Jock Gill – Pellets Bill Olsen – Wood gasification Tomorrow Pellets – 9 am Bioheat panel – 11 am Alternative Fuels – 11 am Wood gasification – 3 pm Biodiesel production - 4 pm

Tonight

Scott Gordon – Biodiesel

Jock Gill – Pellets

Bill Olsen – Wood gasification

Tomorrow

Pellets – 9 am

Bioheat panel – 11 am

Alternative Fuels – 11 am

Wood gasification – 3 pm

Biodiesel production - 4 pm