Energy from Biomass: Short-Run Economic Effects of Increased Biomass Production

摘要

An agricultural policy-simulation model was modified to investigate the short-run (five-year) effects of increased biomass production on traditional agricultural activities under three scenarios. One scenario projected an annual production of one billion gallons of ethanol from corn at the end of a five-year period. The second scenario projected an annual production, on agricultural land, of wood equivalent in heating value to one billion gallons of ethanol. The third scenario projected an annual production of wood, also on agricultural land, equivalent in heating value to 10 billion gallons of ethanol. It was found that the impact on total consumer food costs of the third scenario is nearly twice that of the first scenario. 6 references, 22 figures, 11 tables. (ERA citation 09:025629)