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Policies to Facilitate Conversion of Millions of Acres to the Production of Biofuel Feedstock

Published online by Cambridge University Press:  26 January 2015

Francis M. Epplin  and
Mohua Haque
Francis M. Epplin
Affiliation:
Department of Agricultural Economics, Oklahoma State University, Stillwater, Oklahoma
Mohua Haque
Affiliation:
Department of Agricultural Economics, Oklahoma State University, Stillwater, Oklahoma
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Abstract

First-generation grain ethanol biofuel has affected the historical excess capacity problem in U.S. agriculture. Second-generation cellulosic ethanol biofuel has had difficulty achieving cost-competitiveness. Third-generation drop-in biofuels are under development. If lignocellulosic biomass from perennial grasses becomes the feedstock of choice for second- and third-generation biorefineries, an integrated system could evolve in which a biorefinery directly manages feedstock production, harvest, storage, and delivery. Modeling was conducted to determine the potential economic benefits from an integrated system. Relatively low-cost public policies that could be implemented to facilitate economic efficiency are proposed.

Keywords

biomassbio-oilcellulosicdrop-in fuelsethanolland-lease contractlignocellulosicpyrolysisswitchgrassQ16Q18Q15Q42
Type
Invited Paper Sessions
Information
Journal of Agricultural and Applied Economics , Volume 43 , Issue 3 , August 2011 , pp. 385 - 398
Copyright
Copyright © Southern Agricultural Economics Association 2011

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