Proceedings - Biomass South 2008
Jetta Wong, Environmental & Energy Study Institute (EESI)
Jetta Wong joined Environmental & Energy Studies Institute (EESI) in July 2005 and is the Senior Policy Associate working with EESI's Sustainable Biomass and Energy program. Her responsibilities include overseeing the production of BCO: Bioenergy, Climate Protection, Oil Reduction; monitoring the reauthorization of the Farm Bill and implementation of its existing energy provisions; primary EESI researcher on a three-organization project studying effective marketing incentives for biopower, biofuels and biobased products; and monitoring and advocacy related to the Renewable Fuels Standard and other bioenergy policies enacted in the last few energy bills. Jetta presents at conferences, organizes Congressional briefings, facilitates "Dear Colleague" letters, and responds to requests from numerous Congressional offices, policy groups and other stakeholders. She is the designated biomass expert for RenewableEnergyAccess.com. Jetta has recently testified for Congress on ‘Biofuel Impacts on Food Supplies’and The Implementation of the Renewable Fuel Standard.’
New Federal Biomass Policy: Opportunities for Every State
Over the last year the US Congress has passed a comprehensive energy bill and a new farm bill. These bills hold significant opportunity for biomass. States have the opportunity through their own policies to meet the objectives of the federal government as well as provide several benefits to their own communities.
Notes:
- Broad Biomass Policy Objectives: Climate, environmental stewardship, energy security, economics
- Legislative Updates:
- Energy Independence and Security Act of 2007
- Comprehensive American Energy Security and Consumer Protection Act (H.R. 6899)
- Food, Conservation and Energy Act of 2008 (some biomass provisions)
- Energy Tax Extenders Bill (H.R. 6049)
- Renewable Fuel Standard (RFS): new target of 36 billion gallons by 2022
- 15 billion from conventional biofuel
- 21 billion from advanced biofuels (50% less GHG than baseline)
- Aggregate quantity of GHG emission related to the full fuel lifecycle
- Provisions: federal land exclusion, private land exclusion
- RFS: definition for biomass
- Build off of 3 year USDA biomass incentives project (EESI, NC solar center & new uses council)
- Policy opens:
- 1. low carbon fuel standard, allow market for the whole supply chain
- 2. innovative research initiatives
- 3. inteagency collaborative
- 4. tax incentives
- Sustainable Agriculture and Forestry Programs
- Easement programs to develop biofeedstock
- Municipal waste utilization incentives - waste reduction should be first priority
- Biomass can be part of the Clean Energy and Climate Solution
- There is No Silver Bullet
Thanks to Sarah Ashton, Rachel Cook, Lindsey Hannum, James Jeuck, Liwei Lin, James McCarter, Susan McIntyre, and Mark Megalos for providing notes and summaries for presentations.
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