Next-Generation Biofuels - Penn State Institutes of Energy and the ...

10 NEXT-GENERATION BIOFUELS
defining the technologies of the future for this industry. Six
are under construction or planned for in Bay states: three
in New York, two in Pennsylvania, and one in Maryland.
Not all are in the watershed.
A collaboration involving the U.S. Department of
Energy, Conoco Phillips, and Iowa State University is also
developing cellulosic technologies that will use gasification,
pyrolysis, and fermentation to produce fuels from
corn stalks, stems, leaves, other non-food agricultural
residues, hardy grasses and fast-growing trees. In addition
to the production of cellulosic ethanol, emerging technology
will soon support a wide range of biofuels including
biobutanol, renewable diesel, and biogasoline and jet fuel
(see Figure 5).
Government grants, loans, loan guarantees and tax
credits — coupled with Renewable Fuel Standards (see
Sidebar, page 9) and cutting edge research at universities
and government labs — are also boosting the development
of cellulosic biofuels. The U.S. Department of Energy
is investing up to $375 million in three new Bioenergy
Research Centers that will accelerate the development
of cellulosic ethanol and other biofuels, as part of the
national “Twenty in Ten” initiative to reduce U.S. gasoline
consumption by 20 percent within 10 years. The U.S.
Department of Energy is also investing $385 million for
six cellulosic bio-refinery projects over the next four years.
When fully operational, the bio-refineries are expected
to produce more than 130 million gallons of cellulosic
ethanol per year.
The adoption of a low-carbon fuel standard in
California to reduce the carbon intensity of the state’s
transportation fuel use 10 percent by 2020 will further
advance the development of cellulosic biofuels. Other
states may follow, only furthering the demand.
Positioned to Lead
The Chesapeake Bay region is well positioned to take
leadership in this revolutionary shift to greener, renewable
fuels, and to enjoy its economic and environmental
benefits.
A number of diverse feedstocks can be grown in the
Bay region as sustainable crops for cellulosic biofuels
throughout the year and transported at low cost to major
East Coast energy markets. A large number of universities
and research institutes in the region are already working
on cellulosic biofuels, and many private companies are
willing to partner and develop competitive technologies.
This research will not only produce a variety of biofuels
such as ethanol, butanol, biodiesel and biohydrogen,