{ "id": "R41603", "type": "CRS Report", "typeId": "REPORTS", "number": "R41603", "active": true, "source": "EveryCRSReport.com, University of North Texas Libraries Government Documents Department", "versions": [ { "source": "EveryCRSReport.com", "id": 449875, "date": "2016-02-12", "retrieved": "2016-04-06T17:10:57.936648", "title": "Is Biopower Carbon Neutral?", "summary": "To promote energy diversity and improve energy security, Congress has expressed interest in biopower\u2014electricity generated from biomass. Biopower, a baseload power source, can be produced from a large range of biomass feedstocks nationwide (e.g., urban, agricultural, and forestry wastes and residues). The two most common biopower processes are combustion (e.g., direct-fired or co-fired) and gasification, with the former being the most widely used. Proponents have stated that biopower has the potential to strengthen rural economies, enhance energy security, and minimize the environmental impacts of energy production. Challenges to biopower production include the need for a sufficient feedstock supply, concerns about potential health impacts to nearby communities from the combustion of biomass, and its higher generation costs relative to fossil fuel-based electricity. At present, biopower generally requires tax incentives to be competitive with conventional fossil fuel-fired electric generation. \nAn energy production activity typically is classified as carbon neutral if it produces no net increase in greenhouse gas (GHG) emissions on a life-cycle basis. The legislative record shows minimal debate about the carbon status of biopower. The argument that biopower is carbon neutral has come under scrutiny in debate on its potential to help meet U.S. energy demands and reduce U.S. GHG emissions. Whether biopower is considered carbon neutral depends on many factors, including the definition of carbon neutrality, feedstock type, technology used, and time frame examined. Carbon flux (emission and sequestration) varies at each phase of the biopower pathway, given site- and operation-specific factors. A life-cycle assessment (LCA) is a common technique to calculate the environmental footprint, including the carbon flux, of a particular biopower pathway. However, past legislation would not have required a standardized LCA for biopower.\nThe carbon-neutral status of biopower may be of concern to stakeholders, especially if Congress expands support for biopower. Questions such as where the feedstock supply for biopower originates, if it is managed in a sustainable manner, and whether the associated air-quality impacts from biopower generation are tolerable are part of the biopower carbon-neutrality debate. Congress may decide whether the current approach regarding the carbon status of biopower is acceptable or whether additional carbon accounting for biopower is warranted and what impact this accounting might have on renewable energy, agricultural, and environmental legislative goals.\nTwo recent actions by the executive branch\u2014the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency\u2019s (EPA\u2019s) Clean Power Plan (CPP), which addresses carbon dioxide (CO2) emission reductions from existing fossil fuel-fired electric power plants, and EPA\u2019s proposed framework to account for biogenic CO2 emissions from stationary sources\u2014could focus attention on biopower\u2019s carbon neutrality. The CPP\u2014which was granted a stay by the Supreme Court on February 9, 2016\u2014requires states to devise a plan that allows them to reach a state-specific CO2 emission reduction goal by 2030, using various options, including renewable energy (e.g., biopower). In the CPP final rule, EPA specifies that \u201cqualified biomass\u201d may be included in a state plan given certain conditions. In November 2014, EPA released its second biogenic accounting framework. The framework addresses some of the EPA Science Advisory Board\u2019s recommendations from the first framework, released in 2011, including the finding that \u201ccarbon neutrality cannot be assumed for all biomass energy a priori.\u201d EPA acknowledges that the framework is an analytical methodology and that some stakeholders may consider it an example of how EPA may treat biogenic emissions in both the CPP and the Prevention of Significant Deterioration program. However, EPA reports that it \u201chas not yet determined how the framework might be applied in any particular regulatory or policy contexts or taken the steps needed for such implementation.\u201d", "type": "CRS Report", "typeId": "REPORTS", "active": true, "formats": [ { "format": "HTML", "encoding": "utf-8", "url": "http://www.crs.gov/Reports/R41603", "sha1": "0ecedee463fffa54c7296b567da0f4c284424c52", "filename": "files/20160212_R41603_0ecedee463fffa54c7296b567da0f4c284424c52.html", "images": null }, { "format": "PDF", "encoding": null, "url": "http://www.crs.gov/Reports/pdf/R41603", "sha1": "967477dfdafed25ba83f455ca7a3f9efabeaffd4", "filename": "files/20160212_R41603_967477dfdafed25ba83f455ca7a3f9efabeaffd4.pdf", "images": null } ], "topics": [ { "source": "IBCList", "id": 2061, "name": "Renewable Energy and Energy Efficiency" }, { "source": "IBCList", "id": 2913, "name": "Electric Power Sector" }, { "source": "IBCList", "id": 3878, "name": "Climate Change Science, Technology, and Policy" }, { "source": "IBCList", "id": 4425, "name": "Sustainability Law and Policy" } ] }, { "source": "University of North Texas Libraries Government Documents Department", "sourceLink": "https://digital.library.unt.edu/ark:/67531/metadc824675/", "id": "R41603_2016Feb04", "date": "2016-02-04", "retrieved": "2016-04-04T14:48:17", "title": "Is Biopower Carbon Neutral?", "summary": "This report discusses biomass energy, or bioenergy, which may receive more attention from stakeholders as an alternative to fossil fuels because of its potential to minimize the environmental impacts of energy production, provide energy security, and promote economic development. The report discusses some factors taken into account when considering whether biopower is carbon neutral.", "type": "CRS Report", "typeId": "REPORT", "active": false, "formats": [ { "format": "PDF", "filename": "files/20160204_R41603_eb6d969f83d2eb0c21cdc5ccd376a6785072c415.pdf" }, { "format": "HTML", "filename": "files/20160204_R41603_eb6d969f83d2eb0c21cdc5ccd376a6785072c415.html" } ], "topics": [ { "source": "LIV", "id": "Biomass energy", "name": "Biomass energy" }, { "source": "LIV", "id": "Alternative energy sources", "name": "Alternative energy sources" }, { "source": "LIV", "id": "Energy", "name": "Energy" }, { "source": "LIV", "id": "Greenhouse gases", "name": "Greenhouse gases" }, { "source": "LIV", "id": "Carbon cycle", "name": "Carbon cycle" } ] }, { "source": "University of North Texas Libraries Government Documents Department", "sourceLink": "https://digital.library.unt.edu/ark:/67531/metadc795439/", "id": "R41603_2015Sep28", "date": "2015-09-28", "retrieved": "2016-01-13T14:26:20", "title": "Is Biopower Carbon Neutral?", "summary": "This report discusses Biomass energy, or bioenergy, which may receive more attention from stakeholders as an alternative to fossil fuels because of its potential to minimize the environmental impacts of energy production, provide energy security, and promote economic development.", "type": "CRS Report", "typeId": "REPORT", "active": false, "formats": [ { "format": "PDF", "filename": "files/20150928_R41603_2b41a12af937226277ef8df795942ad4e44af934.pdf" }, { "format": "HTML", "filename": "files/20150928_R41603_2b41a12af937226277ef8df795942ad4e44af934.html" } ], "topics": [ { "source": "LIV", "id": "Biomass energy", "name": "Biomass energy" }, { "source": "LIV", "id": "Alternative energy sources", "name": "Alternative energy sources" }, { "source": "LIV", "id": "Energy", "name": "Energy" }, { "source": "LIV", "id": "Greenhouse gases", "name": "Greenhouse gases" }, { "source": "LIV", "id": "Carbon cycle", "name": "Carbon cycle" } ] }, { "source": "University of North Texas Libraries Government Documents Department", "sourceLink": "https://digital.library.unt.edu/ark:/67531/metadc503337/", "id": "R41603_2015Feb19", "date": "2015-02-19", "retrieved": "2015-04-30T17:37:21", "title": "Is Biopower Carbon Neutral?", "summary": "This report discusses some factors taken into account when considering whether biopower is carbon neutral. It does not discuss carbon accounting for other bioenergy pathways.", "type": "CRS Report", "typeId": "REPORT", "active": false, "formats": [ { "format": "PDF", "filename": "files/20150219_R41603_62ad8fba5ec91210f25ddaf176d88cc2f96c7574.pdf" }, { "format": "HTML", "filename": "files/20150219_R41603_62ad8fba5ec91210f25ddaf176d88cc2f96c7574.html" } ], "topics": [ { "source": "LIV", "id": "Energy", "name": "Energy" }, { "source": "LIV", "id": "Biomass energy", "name": "Biomass energy" }, { "source": "LIV", "id": "Greenhouse gases", "name": "Greenhouse gases" }, { "source": "LIV", "id": "Air pollution", "name": "Air pollution" } ] }, { "source": "University of North Texas Libraries Government Documents Department", "sourceLink": "https://digital.library.unt.edu/ark:/67531/metadc807140/", "id": "R41603_2013Jan02", "date": "2013-01-02", "retrieved": "2016-03-19T13:57:26", "title": "Is Biopower Carbon Neutral?", "summary": null, "type": "CRS Report", "typeId": "REPORT", "active": false, "formats": [ { "format": "PDF", "filename": "files/20130102_R41603_bafa366422ef006e18c35445e093045a4b0f4a36.pdf" }, { "format": "HTML", "filename": "files/20130102_R41603_bafa366422ef006e18c35445e093045a4b0f4a36.html" } ], "topics": [] }, { "source": "University of North Texas Libraries Government Documents Department", "sourceLink": "https://digital.library.unt.edu/ark:/67531/metadc97992/", "id": "R41603_2011Jul06", "date": "2011-07-06", "retrieved": "2012-08-21T08:46:06", "title": "Is Biopower Carbon Neutral?", "summary": "This report assesses the variables involved in determining whether or not biopower (i.e., electricity generated from biomass) is a carbon-neutral alternative to fossil fuels as a way to help meet meet U.S. energy demands and reduce U.S. greenhouse gas (GHG) emissions. It includes information about the biomass carbon cycle, GHG accounting for biopower production, recent developments affecting the assessment, and overview of whether or not it can be considered carbon neutral, and legislative implications.", "type": "CRS Report", "typeId": "REPORT", "active": false, "formats": [ { "format": "PDF", "filename": "files/20110706_R41603_22ad3e299a167cc31996f3c9db5446f7512b20e5.pdf" }, { "format": "HTML", "filename": "files/20110706_R41603_22ad3e299a167cc31996f3c9db5446f7512b20e5.html" } ], "topics": [ { "source": "LIV", "id": "Environmental protection", "name": "Environmental protection" }, { "source": "LIV", "id": "Air pollution", "name": "Air pollution" }, { "source": "LIV", "id": "Greenhouse gases", "name": "Greenhouse gases" } ] }, { "source": "University of North Texas Libraries Government Documents Department", "sourceLink": "https://digital.library.unt.edu/ark:/67531/metadc99021/", "id": "R41603_2011Mar24", "date": "2011-03-24", "retrieved": "2012-08-31T21:48:36", "title": "Is Biopower Carbon Neutral?", "summary": "This report discusses some of the most relevant factors to take into account when considering whether or not biopower is carbon neutral. It does not discuss carbon accounting for other bioenergy pathways.", "type": "CRS Report", "typeId": "REPORT", "active": false, "formats": [ { "format": "PDF", "filename": "files/20110324_R41603_2564b4888b7aa19aec7466745d0e323ca6346bb7.pdf" }, { "format": "HTML", "filename": "files/20110324_R41603_2564b4888b7aa19aec7466745d0e323ca6346bb7.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": "Refuse as fuel", "name": "Refuse as fuel" }, { "source": "LIV", "id": "Energy crops", "name": "Energy crops" }, { "source": "LIV", "id": "Agriculture", "name": "Agriculture" } ] }, { "source": "University of North Texas Libraries Government Documents Department", "sourceLink": "https://digital.library.unt.edu/ark:/67531/metadc97991/", "id": "R41603_2011Jan25", "date": "2011-01-25", "retrieved": "2012-08-21T08:46:06", "title": "Is Biopower Carbon Neutral?", "summary": "This report assesses the variables involved in determining whether or not biopower (i.e., electricity generated from biomass) is a carbon-neutral alternative to fossil fuels as a way to help meet meet U.S. energy demands and reduce U.S. greenhouse gas (GHG) emissions. It includes information about the biomass carbon cycle, GHG accounting for biopower production, recent developments affecting the assessment, and overview of whether or not it can be considered carbon neutral, and legislative implications.", "type": "CRS Report", "typeId": "REPORT", "active": false, "formats": [ { "format": "PDF", "filename": "files/20110125_R41603_b31f01fb2fd14ba6b9a26aab5ba763c29b8bd402.pdf" }, { "format": "HTML", "filename": "files/20110125_R41603_b31f01fb2fd14ba6b9a26aab5ba763c29b8bd402.html" } ], "topics": [ { "source": "LIV", "id": "Environmental protection", "name": "Environmental protection" }, { "source": "LIV", "id": "Air pollution", "name": "Air pollution" }, { "source": "LIV", "id": "Greenhouse gases", "name": "Greenhouse gases" } ] }, { "source": "University of North Texas Libraries Government Documents Department", "sourceLink": "https://digital.library.unt.edu/ark:/67531/metadc811282/", "id": "R41603_2011Jan20", "date": "2011-01-20", "retrieved": "2016-03-19T13:57:26", "title": "Is Biopower Carbon Neutral?", "summary": null, "type": "CRS Report", "typeId": "REPORT", "active": false, "formats": [ { "format": "PDF", "filename": "files/20110120_R41603_724163cc84bc242ac5b61824e561d8cf7b2c837f.pdf" }, { "format": "HTML", "filename": "files/20110120_R41603_724163cc84bc242ac5b61824e561d8cf7b2c837f.html" } ], "topics": [] } ], "topics": [ "Agricultural Policy", "Energy Policy" ] }