Applying Greenhouse Gas Emissions Lifecycle Assessment Jennifer
L. Christensen WISE Intern 2009 August 5, 2009
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Introduction Renewable Fuels Potential Legislative History EISA
Lifecycle GGE Criteria Lifecycle Assessment Methodologies Lifecycle
Assessment Application EPA Proposed Rule Issues EPA Recommendations
Federal Government Recommendations
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What is the current global environmental crisis? Global warming
and climate change What can we do about it? Reduce Greenhouse Gas
Emissions (GGE) Capitalize on GGE reduction potential in
transportation sector 29% of total U.S. GGE in 2006
Energy Policy Act (EPAct) of 2005 Created Renewable Fuel
Standard (RFS) Mandated volumes maximizing at 7.5 billion gallons
in 2012 Failed to address sustainability issues regarding increased
biofuel production Energy Independence and Security Act (EISA) of
2007 Modified RFS program Increased mandated volumes to 36 billion
gallons in 2022 Addressed sustainability issues Defined renewable
biomass Defined four biofuel categories depending on lifecycle GGE
thresholds
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Lifecycle GGE Baseline: 2005 average of gasoline and diesel
transportation fuels Biofuel Category Feedstock Definition
Lifecycle GGE Reduction Criteria ConventionalCorn-based ethanol
New: 20% Preexisting: None Cellulosic Derived from cellulose,
hemicellulose, or lignin 60% Biomass-based Biodiesel _50% Advanced
Anything other than conventional 50%
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Developed to assess the environmental impacts of a product or
process from cradle- to-grave Included phases: Primary or direct
Secondary or indirect Source: Biomass Program, United States,
Department of Energy, Energy Efficiency & Renewable Energy,
2009, 29 July 2009.
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Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) Applied four steps of
lifecycle assessment Issued proposed rule in May 2009 Goal
Definition & Scoping Inventory Analysis Impact Assessment
Interpretation Source: United States, Environmental Protection
Agency, Office of Research and Development, National Risk
Management Research Laboratory, Life Cycle Assessment: Principles
and Practice, By Scientific Applications International Corporation,
May 2006: 4, 29 July 2009.
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General Lifecycle Assessment Standards: International
Organization for Standardization (ISO) ISO 14040:2006 Biofuel
Specific Lifecycle Assessment Standards: None; however, Global
Bioenergy Partnership Roundtable on Sustainable Biofuels ISO
committee for sustainable bioenergy
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Biofuels Pathway: Mandated inclusion of significant indirect
emissions Indirect land use change Compared future scenarios in
2022 Reference Scenario: Business-as-Usual Control Scenario: EISA
2022 mandate volume Analyzed marginal impact of increased biofuel
production Petroleum Baseline Pathway: Mandated 2005 average for
gasoline and diesel Direct emissions, but not indirect emissions
Did not analyze impact of increased biofuel production on petroleum
market
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Fuel Equity Inconsistent application of lifecycle assessment
methodologies Trade Equity American farmer vs. International farmer
Commodity Equity Inconsistent mandates across commodity markets
Source: Zia Haq, personal interview, 24 July 2009.
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Direct Emissions: Depend on scientific models Relatively
straightforward Argonne National Laboratorys GREET model Indirect
Emissions: Depend on economic, as well as scientific models
Unprecedented need to simulate changes in domestic and
international agricultural sector Utilized a piecemeal approach of
preexisting models
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Regarding RFS lifecycle GGE criteria: Change petroleum baseline
from 2005 average to allow for marginal comparison Streamline other
incentive programs to fund second and third generation biofuels
Regarding future policy decisions: Utilize lifecycle assessment
methodologies to make better rounded policy decisions Request
National Academies of Science to conduct report on this
utilization
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Regarding EISA final rule: Issue a statement addressing equity
issue of comparing marginal biofuel impacts to average petroleum
impacts Continue to include indirect emissions in biofuel pathways
according to scientific reasoning Enhance modeling capability to
reduce uncertainty Use scientific judgment on model assumptions
Guard against preconceived policy initiatives to define certain
assumptions
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Regarding future application of lifecycle assessment
methodologies: Partner with national & international
stakeholders Partner with fellow agencies Department of Energy
& U.S. Department of Agriculture Partner with American National
Standards Institute to develop international standards
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Source: United States, Environmental Protection Agency, Office
of Transportation and Air Quality, Assessment and Standards
Division, Draft Regulatory Impact Analysis: Changes to Renewable
Fuel Standard Program May 2009: 405, 28 July 2009.