{ "id": "R41440", "type": "CRS Report", "typeId": "REPORTS", "number": "R41440", "active": true, "source": "EveryCRSReport.com, University of North Texas Libraries Government Documents Department", "versions": [ { "source": "EveryCRSReport.com", "id": 449882, "date": "2016-02-12", "retrieved": "2016-04-06T17:11:30.669921", "title": "Biopower: Background and Federal Support", "summary": "Biopower\u2014a form of renewable energy\u2014is the generation of electric power from biomass feedstocks. In 2014, Biopower comprised about 1.6% of total U.S. electricity generation and accounted for close to 12% of U.S. renewable electricity generation. Its advantages include a potential for baseload power production, greenhouse gas emission reduction, and use of renewable biomass feedstock, among other things. Its disadvantages include uncertain sustainable feedstock supply and infrastructure concerns, among other things.\nRecent developments have prompted renewed interest in biopower. For instance, some stakeholders are concerned about the treatment of biopower by the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) for the Clean Power Plan (CPP). The CPP\u2014which was granted a stay by the Supreme Court on February 9, 2016\u2014establishes regulations that would reduce carbon dioxide (CO2) emissions from existing fossil fuel-fired electric power plants. . States are required to reach a state-specific emission reduction goal by 2030 using various options\u2014including biopower\u2014based on guidance provided by EPA. EPA has struggled with accounting for greenhouse gas emissions from bioenergy for various reasons, and it is not clear if this struggle will continue throughout the implementation of the CPP. Further, international demand for wood pellets\u2014primarily to satisfy European Union renewable energy mandates\u2014has increased significantly. This development has prompted environmental organizations and others to express concern about the harvest of increasing amounts of biomass and about possible increases in greenhouse gas emissions from the combustion of wood pellets to produce energy. By contrast, some in the forestry industry and the wood pellet industry argue that the international demand presents another market opportunity, that measures are in place to ensure a sustainable biomass feedstock supply, and that biopower can result in lower greenhouse gas emissions.\nThe future contribution of biopower to the U.S. electricity portfolio is uncertain. Challenges to biopower production include regulatory uncertainty (e.g., EPA\u2019s CPP), market fluctuation (e.g., natural gas prices), conversion technology development, and tax uncertainty (e.g., extension or termination of renewable energy tax credits), among other issues. Some argue that a comprehensive energy policy focused on renewables could boost biopower production efforts, especially if the policy includes a renewable portfolio standard\u2014a mandate that requires increased production of energy from renewable sources. There is no federal renewable portfolio standard, and the last Congress to robustly debate the issue was the 111th Congress. However, 29 states have established renewable portfolio standards, which vary dramatically from state to state. Current federal support for biopower exists in the form of loans, tax incentives, grant programs, and more.", "type": "CRS Report", "typeId": "REPORTS", "active": true, "formats": [ { "format": "HTML", "encoding": "utf-8", "url": "http://www.crs.gov/Reports/R41440", "sha1": "ecac984c5dbcfee95e334d4d7f73ff9a4a143b7d", "filename": "files/20160212_R41440_ecac984c5dbcfee95e334d4d7f73ff9a4a143b7d.html", "images": null }, { "format": "PDF", "encoding": null, "url": "http://www.crs.gov/Reports/pdf/R41440", "sha1": "9cfed73746b15d3f658d7d36ba240d5fcefb80b3", "filename": "files/20160212_R41440_9cfed73746b15d3f658d7d36ba240d5fcefb80b3.pdf", "images": null } ], "topics": [ { "source": "IBCList", "id": 2061, "name": "Renewable Energy and Energy Efficiency" } ] }, { "source": "University of North Texas Libraries Government Documents Department", "sourceLink": "https://digital.library.unt.edu/ark:/67531/metadc743409/", "id": "R41440_2015Aug14", "date": "2015-08-14", "retrieved": "2015-10-20T21:35:54", "title": "Biopower: Background and Federal Support", "summary": "The report begins with general summaries about bioenergy and biopower, including potential benefits and challenges, feedstocks, and biopower technologies. It also describes federal support available for biopower and relevant legislative concerns.", "type": "CRS Report", "typeId": "REPORT", "active": false, "formats": [ { "format": "PDF", "filename": "files/20150814_R41440_f98282fc62a4d0594688100da319b97b30e9ddf8.pdf" }, { "format": "HTML", "filename": "files/20150814_R41440_f98282fc62a4d0594688100da319b97b30e9ddf8.html" } ], "topics": [ { "source": "LIV", "id": "Energy", "name": "Energy" }, { "source": "LIV", "id": "Alternative energy sources", "name": "Alternative energy sources" }, { "source": "LIV", "id": "Biomass energy", "name": "Biomass energy" }, { "source": "LIV", "id": "Energy policy", "name": "Energy policy" } ] }, { "source": "University of North Texas Libraries Government Documents Department", "sourceLink": "https://digital.library.unt.edu/ark:/67531/metadc815673/", "id": "R41440_2015Jul16", "date": "2015-07-16", "retrieved": "2016-03-19T13:57:26", "title": "Biopower: Background and Federal Support", "summary": null, "type": "CRS Report", "typeId": "REPORT", "active": false, "formats": [ { "format": "PDF", "filename": "files/20150716_R41440_2d557245e98ccb09751d2428d01dbb39f2edefdc.pdf" }, { "format": "HTML", "filename": "files/20150716_R41440_2d557245e98ccb09751d2428d01dbb39f2edefdc.html" } ], "topics": [] }, { "source": "University of North Texas Libraries Government Documents Department", "sourceLink": "https://digital.library.unt.edu/ark:/67531/metadc31382/", "id": "R41440_2010Oct06", "date": "2010-10-06", "retrieved": "2011-03-09T09:26:47", "title": "Biomass Feedstocks for Biopower: Background and Selected Issues", "summary": "The production of bioenergy - renewable energy derived from biomass - could potentially increase national energy security, reduce greenhouse gas emissions, and contribute to rural economic growth. This report provides analyses of commonly discussed biomass feedstocks and their relative potential for power generation. Additional biopower issues - feedstock accessibility, the biomass power plant carbon-neutrality debate, and unintended consequences of legislative activities to promote bioenergy - are also discussed.", "type": "CRS Report", "typeId": "REPORT", "active": false, "formats": [ { "format": "PDF", "filename": "files/20101006_R41440_97aefb63dd9d2dfd4c1ae046d0d4ad0f5b6d0136.pdf" }, { "format": "HTML", "filename": "files/20101006_R41440_97aefb63dd9d2dfd4c1ae046d0d4ad0f5b6d0136.html" } ], "topics": [ { "source": "LIV", "id": "Energy", "name": "Energy" }, { "source": "LIV", "id": "Biomass energy", "name": "Biomass energy" }, { "source": "LIV", "id": "Fuel", "name": "Fuel" }, { "source": "LIV", "id": "Alternative energy sources", "name": "Alternative energy sources" }, { "source": "LIV", "id": "Business", "name": "Business" }, { "source": "LIV", "id": "Feedstock", "name": "Feedstock" } ] } ], "topics": [ "Agricultural Policy", "Energy Policy", "Foreign Affairs", "Science and Technology Policy" ] }