Industry Reports

Monthly Energy Review (MER)
U.S. DOE Energy Information Administration (EIA)www.eia.doe.gov/, Nov. 25th, 2009

The Monthly Energy Review (MER) is the Energy Information Administration’s primary report of recent energy statistics. Included are total energy production, consumption, and trade; energy prices; overviews of petroleum, natural gas, coal, electricity, nuclear energy, renewable energy, and international petroleum; carbon dioxide emissions; and data unit conversions.Read Entire Report (Adobe Acrobat PDF)

Ethanol and a Changing Agricultural Landscape
By Scott A. Malcolm, Marcel Aillery, and Marca Weinberg, Economic Research Report No. (ERR-86) 64 pp USDA Economic Research Service, Nov., 2009

The Energy Independence and Security Act (EISA) of 2007 established specific targets for the production of biofuel in the United States. Until advanced technologies become commercially viable, meeting these targets will increase demand for traditional agricultural commodities used to produce ethanol, resulting in land-use, production, and price changes throughout the farm sector. This report summarizes the estimated effects of meeting the EISA targets for 2015 on regional agricultural production and the environment. Meeting EISA targets for ethanol production is estimated to expand U.S. cropped acreage by nearly 5 million acres by 2015, an increase of 1.6 percent over what would otherwise be expected. Much of the growth comes from corn acreage, which increases by 3.5 percent over baseline projections. Water quality and soil carbon will also be affected, in some cases by greater percentages than suggested by changes in the amount of cropped land. The economic and environmental implications of displacing a portion of cornethanol production with ethanol produced from crop residues are also estimated.Read Entire Report (Adobe Acrobat PDF)

Exposed: Social vulnerability and climate change in the US Southeast
Oxfam America: Working together to end poverty and injusticewww.oxfamamerica.org, Nov., 2009

Publication Summary The effects of natural disasters and climate change vary widely by state, county, and community. Although social variables such as income and age do not determine who will be hit by a natural disaster, they do determine a population's ability to prepare, respond, and recover when disaster does strike. Historically, studies about climate hazards and social vulnerability have been conducted in separate silos. The Social Vulnerability Index (SoVI) is the first study of its kind to examine both the potential impact of natural hazards and which populations are most likely to be negatively affected. The SoVI statistically examines the underlying social and demographic characteristics of the population and how they impact certain segments of the population in disabling ways when it comes to climate change-related hazards. This research, commissioned by Oxfam America, includes a series of layered maps that depict social and climate change-related hazard vulnerability. The maps assist in identifying hotspots in the US Southeast, which are at significant risk in the face of four particular climate change-related hazards: drought, flooding, hurricane force winds, and sea-level rise. The specific region of focus is the 13-state region of the US Southeast: Alabama, Arkansas, Florida, Georgia, Kentucky, Louisiana, Maryland, Mississippi, North Carolina, South Carolina, Tennessee, Texas, and Virginia. Roughly 80 percent of all US counties that experience persistent poverty (defined as a county in which at least 20 percent of the population experiences poverty for three decades or more) lie in this region Read Entire Report (Adobe Acrobat PDF)

Increasing Feedstock Production for Biofuels
Economic Drivers, Environmental Implication, and the Role of Research
By the Biomass Research and Development Board, Dec., 2008

A large expansion in ethanol production, along with research and innovation to develop second-generation biofuels, is underway in the United States, spurred by volatile oil prices and energy policies. This increased focus on ethanol and other biofuels is an important element of U.S. economic, energy, environmental, and national security policies. A series of policies have supported development of biofuels, including the Biomass Research and Development Act of 2000, the Energy Policy Act of 2005 (which mandated increasing domestic use of renewable fuels to 7.5 billion gallons in 2012), the Energy Independence and Security Act (EISA) of 2007 (which established a 36-billion-gallon mandate for biofuels by 2022), and the 2002 and 2008 Farm Bills. Meeting these ...... Read Entire Report (Adobe Acrobat PDF)

Greenpeace Releases its 2^nd Report on the Energy [R]evolution Scenario
By Sven Teske, Greenpeace International, Oliver Schäfer, Arthouros Zervos, EREC, Oct., 2008
Non-profit organization, Greenpeace recently released its 2^nd report on the Energy [R]evolution: A Sustainable Global Energy Outlook. This report, according to Greenpeace, paints the only scenario on how to contemporaneously reduce greenhouse gas (GHG) emissions, eliminate nuclear power, save money, and aid global economic development. The plan called for ...... Read Entire Report (Adobe Acrobat PDF)

Feed Outlook
By Allen Baker, Edward Allen, and Heather Lutman (USDA) October, 2008
Examines supply, use, prices, and trade for feed grains, including supply and demand prospects in major importing and exporting countries. Focuses on corn; also contains information on sorghum, barley, oats, and hay. Read Entire Report (Adobe Acrobat PDF)

Ethanol: The Complete Energy Lifecycle Picture
Department of Energy (DOE)-Energy Efficiency and Renewable Energy (EERE), Posted (N/A)
An industry-standard-setting total lifecycle model has been developed that allows researchers to evaluate various vehicle and fuel combinations with a consistent methodology. The Greenhouse gases, Regulated Emissionsand Energy use in Transportation (GREET) model was developed…. Read Entire Report (Adobe Acrobat PDF)

National Biofuels Action Plan
By Biomass Research and Development Board 24 pp, October 2008
America has one-third of the world’s automobiles (230 million) and uses twenty five percent of the world’s oil. The American economy depends on liquid transportation fuels, principally derived from petroleum, to power our cars, buses, trucks, locomotives, barge ….. Read Entire Report (Adobe Acrobat PDF)

Summary of Roadmap for a “Green Economic Recovery:” Boosting Short and Long Term Economic Growth while Improving National Security and the Environment
By Robert Pollin, Heidi Garrett-Peltier, James Heintz, and Helen Scharber, Sep. 2008
The Center for American Progress (CAP) and University of Massachusetts’ Political Economy Research Institute (PERI) recently released a report titled “Green Recovery: A Program to Create Good Jobs and Start Building a Low-Carbon Economy.” It detailed how a well-timed and frontloaded investment in the nation’s green industry will boost short and long term economic growth through the creation ……Read Entire Report (Adobe Acrobat PDF)

Taxpayers Handing $33 Billion to Oil Companies
Friends of the Earth, July 2008
Friends of the Earth’s new analysis shows that even though the oil and gas industry is experiencing record profits, it is set to receive at least $33 billion in handouts from taxpayers over the next five years. These companies stand to gain at least $23.2 billion from tax loopholes, $3.8 billion in …… Read Entire Report (Adobe Acrobat PDF)

Global Agricultural Supply and Demand: Factors Contributing to the Recent Increase in Food Commodity Prices
By Ronald Trostle (USDA) Outlook Report No. (WRS-0801) 30 pp, July 2008
World market prices for major food commodities such as grains and vegetable oils have risen sharply to historic highs of more than 60 percent above levels just 2 years ago. Many factors have contributed to the runup in food commodity prices. Some factors reflect ….. Read Entire Report (Adobe Acrobat PDF)

Annual Energy Outlook: With Projections to 2030
By John J. Conti, Paul D. Holtberg, Joseph A. Beamon, A. Michael Schaal, Glen E. Sweetnam, and Andy S. Kydes (DOE) DOE/EIA-0383 224 pp, June 2008
In preparing projections for AEO2008, EIA evaluated a wide range of trends and issues that could have major implications for U.S. energy markets between today and 2030. This overview focuses on one case, the reference case, which is presented and compared with the AEO2007 reference case ….. Read Entire Report (Adobe Acrobat PDF)

Ethanol Expansion in the United States: How Will the Agricultural Sector Adjust?
By Paul Westcott (USDA) Outlook Report No. (FDS-07D-01) 20 pp, May 2007
A large expansion in ethanol production is underway in the United States. Cellulosic sources of feedstocks for ethanol production hold some promise for the future, but the primary feedstock in the United States currently is corn. Market adjustments to this increased ….. Read Entire Report (Adobe Acrobat PDF)

Biofuels and Greenhouse Gas Myths and Facts from the Biomass Program
By the Biomass Program of the Department of Energy (DOE), April, 2008
U.S. Energy consumption is expected to grow over 18 percent by 2030. Biofuels must continue to play a significant role as we work aggressively to diversify our nation’s energy sources and provide a balanced portfolio of energy solutions to help meet our growing demand for energy...... Read Entire report (Adobe Acrobat PDF)

Biomass and Biofuel Update to Congress
U.S. Department of Energy (DOE) Office of Biomass Program, May, 2008
The U.S. office of Energy Efficiency and Renewable Energy (EERE) briefs congress on the strategy, national biofuels target, commitment to sustainability, DOE work on sustainability, food vs fuel argument, movement to non-food feedstocks and more ...See Entire Presentation

Global Demand for Biofuels Feedstocks
Report by the USDA, Feb, 2008
World consumption of many grain, oilseed, and meats has exceeded production in the past several years. As a result, global stocks have dropped sharply—to record lows in some cases—and prices have risen. Tight market conditions are projected to persist for many commodities over most of the coming decade, keeping agricultural commodity prices high. …… Read More

Energy Independence and Security Act of 2007: A Summary of Major Provisions
Fred Sissine, Coordinator, Specialist in Energy Policy, Resources, Science, and Industry Division, Dec, 2007
The Energy Independence and Security Act is an omnibus energy policy law that consists mainly of provisions designed to increase energy efficiency and the availability of renewable energy. This report describes the key provisions of the enacted law, summarizes the legislative action on H.R. 6, and provides a summary of the provisions under each of the titles in the law. The highlights of key provisions enacted into law are as follows: ► Corporate Average Fuel Economy (CAFE). The law sets a target of 35 miles per gallon for the combined fleet of cars and light trucks by model year 2020. ► Renewable Fuels Standard (RFS). The law sets a modified standard that starts at 9.0 billion gallons in 2008 and rises to 36 billion gallons by 2022. ► Energy Efficiency Equipment Standards. The adopted bill includes a variety of new standards for lighting and for residential and commercial appliance equipment. The equipment includes …… Read More

Ethanol Co-Products Used For Livestock Feed
By the National Agricultural Statistics Service (NASS), Agricultural Statistics Board, U.S. Department of Agriculture (USDA), June, 2007
A survey by USDA's National Agricultural Statistics Service of beef, dairy, and hog producers in 12 Midwestern States to determine current usage of distillers grains, essential feed characteristics, and concerns keeping producers from using distillers grains. Read Entire Report (Adobe Acrobat PDF)

Contribution of the Ethanol Industry to the Economy of the United States
By John M. Urbanchuk for the Renewable Fuels Association (RFA), Feb., 2007
The ethanol industry is one of the most significant success stories in American manufacturing over the past quartercentury.From a cottage industry that produced 175 million gallons in 1980, the American ethanol industry has grown to include 113 manufacturing facilities with an annual capacity of nearly 5.6 billion gallons. Read Entire Report (Adobe Acrobat PDF)

Greenhouse Gas Impacts of Expanded Renewable and Alternative Fuels Use
By the Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) Office of Transportation and Air Quality, April, 2007
The increased use of renewable and alternative fuels can result in significant reductions in the use of petroleum-based fuels. By displacing petroleum fuels, many, although not all, of these fuels can provide reductions in greenhouse gas emissions. To estimate the impacts of increases in renewable and alternative fuels on greenhouse gas …. Read Entire Report (Adobe Acrobat PDF)

Biomass as Feedstock for a Bioenergy and Bioproducts Industry: The Technical Feasibility of a Billion-Ton Annual Supply
By Robert D. Perlack, Lynn L. Wright, Anthony F. Turhollow, Robin L. Graham, Bryce J. Stokes, and Donald C. Erbach (DOE), April, 2005
The land resources of the United States are capable of producing a sustainable supply of biomass sufficient to displace 30% or more of the country’s present petroleum consumption. This annual potential is based on a more than seven-fold increase in production from the amount of biomass currently consumed for bioenergy and biobased products. ....... Read Entire Report (Adobe Acrobat PDF)

Well-to-Wheels Analysis of Advanced Fuel/Vehicle Systems — A North American Study of Energy Use, Greenhouse Gas Emissions, and Criteria Pollutant Emissions
By Norman Brinkman, General Motors Corporation; Michael Wang, Argonne National Laboratory; Trudy Weber, General Motors Corporation; Thomas Darlington, Air Improvement Resource, Inc. May, 2005
An accurate assessment of future fuel/propulsion system options requires a complete vehicle fuel-cycle analysis, commonly called a well-to-wheels (WTW) analysis. In this WTW study, we analyzed energy use and emissions associated with fuel production (or well-to-tank [WTT]) activities and energy use and emissions associated with vehicle operation (or tank-to-wheels [TTW]) activities. Energy resources, such as petroleum, natural gas (NG), coal, and biomass, as well as the energy carrier, electricity, are considered…… Read Entire Report (Adobe Acrobat PDF)