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Biomass, Biofuels, and Advanced VehiclesOverviewCurrently, there are major opportunities in thebiopower field given the rising cost of qualitycoal, new federal requirements for increasedproduction of renewable electricity, demandsfrom the federal government for the reduction ofgreenhouse gas emissions, and the availabilityof Renewable Energy and Carbon Credits.ConsensusAt RETECH, it was determined that biopower isan essential renewable energy solution to manyof our energy problems. Biopower encouragesbest practices in forest management, reducesreliance on fossil fuels, and contributes to ourenergy security. Biopower is also CO 2-neutral asCO 2is captured by feedstock growth.Additionally, biopower has the potential to be ahighly efficient energy source for transmissionlines built in support of renewable energy andenergy efficiency. Biopower is the idealcomplimentary technology to solar and windenergy given its ability to consistently meetbaseload requirements.“New high corn oil hybrids are availablefor producing biodiesel without loweringthe available fermentable sugars in the corn.With 10 million gallons of biodiesel per110 million gallon ethanol, the net carbonintensity of the resulting fuel streams issubstantially reduced.”– Jim Schreck, Chief Technology Officer, BEST EnergiesBiopower Economics & FinanceDevelopment constraints inhibit biopowerprojects. These constraints must be overcomethrough federal energy legislation.Seven serious project developmentconstraints on biopower projects wereidentified: feedstock and processing; energyconversion technology; siting (size and location);environmental impact; finance; operation andmaintenance (O&M); and (technological)know-how.It was clear at RETECH that biopower marketdevelopment is necessary to overcome projectdevelopment constraints.The need for a standardized national electric code wasalso discussed as every utility employs different regulationsfor connection and (these differences can delayconnection between different markets. Delays on transmissioncan be expensive and time-consuming.So far, federal incentives for the biopower market arelargely based around the American Recovery and ReinvestmentAct. This legislation has allowed the Investment TaxCredit to be used as an alternative to the PTC; extendingthe tax credit deadline through 2013; and expanded andsimplified the Loan Guarantee program.In order for the biomass power industry to meet its fullpotential, additional incentives will be required to increasefuel supplies and lower costs. The federal and stategovernments must support deployment of “state of theart” wood waste equipment. For collection, processingand transportation (improvements there must be anevaluation of successful strategies to access state andfederal lands. Wildfires are one of the largest CO2 sourcesin the US; we must consider improved land clearingtechniques for diseased or infested trees.The development of conventional and advancedbiofuels is fast paced, involving a variety ofdifferent feedstocks and technologies.American Council On Renewable EnergyExecutive Summary Report 19