The Renewable Fuel Standard (RFS) has worked as intended to spawn investment in the advanced biofuel sector — but the continued growth of this industry is at significant risk because of the U.S. EPA’s proposal to gut the RFS and increase the amount of oil in gasoline.
2. BIOTECHNOLOGY INDUSTRY ORGANIZATION 2
Existing and Planned Biorefineries
Currently 29 states have at least
one existing or planned
biorefinery, 85 facilities in all.
Innovation includes renewable
chemicals and advanced biofuels.
Commercial and pilot facilities
have created 7,500 permanent
employment opportunities and
more than 6,000 construction jobs.
Companies have invested $5.8
billion in private capital.
100 million gallons of commercial
cellulosic biofuel coming online in
2014.
Additional 100 million gallons in
planning for future years.
3. BIOTECHNOLOGY INDUSTRY ORGANIZATION 3
EPA Proposed RVO: Impact on the
Environment Is Clear
Decreased use of biofuels
automatically increases use of
petroleum and associated
CO2e emissions.
Undercutting development of
advanced biofuels foregoes
future emission reductions.
Effect is as large as adding
5.9 million cars to the road or
opening 7.5 new coal-fired
power plants. 1,700,000
1,750,000
1,800,000
1,850,000
1,900,000
1,950,000
2,000,000
2,050,000
2,100,000
2,150,000
2,200,000
2,250,000
2013 2014 2015 2016 2017 2018 2019 2020 2021 2022
Emissions (CO2e) under Modeled RFS (thousand metric tons per year)
Source: GREET1.2013, w/LUC
Emissions (CO2e) under Statutory RFS (thousand metric tons per year)
Source: GREET1.2013, w/LUC
19. Page
Project LIBERTY facts
• Joint venture between POET
and DSM
• 25 million gallons per year
• Consumes 770 tons/day of
crop residue (corn cobs,
leaves, husk, stalk)
• 80%+ reduction in
Greenhouse Gasses
• 40 biorefinery jobs
• $1.6 million annual
payroll/benefits
• $1 million+ annual impact on
local taxing entities
• $20-$25 million annual revenue
for farmers from feedstock
23. Page
POET’s corn
ethanol efficiency
• POET spends millions annually
on R&D to improve corn ethanol
efficiency.
• Increased ethanol yield by more
than 8% since 2001
• Cut energy use by 30% since
2001
• Cut water use from 17 gal/gal of
ethanol in 1987 to 2.6 gal/gal of
ethanol today
The cellulosic industry has made visible progress in commercialization, with commercial-size, pioneer production facilities reaching construction completion and commissioning phases. Stability in the RFS is crucial at the present stage.EPA’s proposed rule has done damage, chilling investment in the sector.First generation ethanol and biodiesel production capacity provides infrastructure for next-generation technologies. It also provides supply chain logistics for residues and other cellulosic feedstocks. EPA’s proposal to put the RFS on a (quote-unquote) “manageable trajectory” should trigger an assessment of the impact on a range of economic and environmental measurements.
BIO recently published an analysis of the impact of EPA’s proposal on greenhouse gas emissions. We built on a recent analysis by Michael Wang of Argonne National Labs, which found that the GHG emission profile of biofuels are rapidly improving as technology improves. But the environmental impact of U.S. petroleum use continues to get worse – as the US relies more and more on Canadian oil sands. So our major finding is that if more of the US petroleum fuel mix comes from Canadian oil sands – which is what will happen with the proposed changes to the RFS -- the resulting increase in GHG emissions will be unavoidable. Because the RFS is the only Congressionally authorized greenhouse gas reduction program, EPA cannot afford backsliding.
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JV = Two innovative companies that have one shared vision: making cellulosic ethanol a (commercial) reality;Two companies leading the transition from a petroleum-based economy to a bio-based economy. POETone of the world’s largest ethanol producersleader in biorefining through its efficient, vertically integrated approach to production25-year-old companypilot-scale cellulosic bio-ethanol plant (Scotland)production capacity in excess of 1.6 billion gallons of ethanol and 9 billion pounds of DDGS annually from its 27 production facilities.DSMglobal science-based company active in health, nutrition and materialsconnecting its unique competences in Life Sciences and Materials Sciencesdriving economic prosperity, environmental progress and social advances to create sustainable value for all stakeholders22,000 employees extensive global footprint annual net sales of about € 9 billion/ US$ 11 blnJVAnnounced Jan 23, 2012commercialize and license cellulosic bio-ethanolObjective: make advanced biofuels a reality by 2013Based in Sioux Falls (SD)
Photo: Distillation/Evaporation
Final slide – keep up as long as possible while you finish speech and move back to your seat.
