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Policy Research Working Paper (5371): Placing the 2006/08 Commodity Price Boom into Perspective
Author: The World Bank Development Prospects Group | Posted: August 03, 2010
Descriptions: The 2006-08 commodity price boom was one of the longest and broadest of the post-World War II period. Apart from strong and sustained economic growth, the recent boom was fueled by numerous factors, including low past investment in extractive commodities, weak dollar, fiscal expansion, and lax monetary policy in many countries, and investment fund activity. At the same time, the combination of adverse weather conditions, the diversion of some food commodities to the production of biofuels, and government policies (including export bans and prohibitive taxes) brought global stocks of many food commodities down to levels not seen since the early 1970s. This in turn accelerated the price increases that eventually led to the 2008 rally. The weakening and/or reversal of these factors coupled with the financial crisis that erupted in September 2008 and the subsequent global economic downturn, induced sharp price declines across most commodity sectors. Yet, the main price indices are still twice as high compared to their 2000 real levels, begging once more the question about the real factors affecting them. This paper concludes that a stronger link between energy and non- energy commodity prices is likely to be the dominant influence on developments in commodity, and especially food, markets. Demand by emerging economies is unlikely to put additional pressure on the prices of food commodities. The paper also argues that the effect of biofuels on food prices has not been as large as originally thought, but that the use of commodities by financial investors (the so-called ”financialization of commodities”) may have been partly responsible for the 2007/08 spike. Finally, econometric analysis of the long-term evolution of commodity prices supports the thesis that price variability overwhelms price trends.
food vs fuel, myths, commodity prices, speculation, gma, criticism
A USDA Regional Roadmap to Meeting the Biofuels Goals of the Renewable Fuels Standard by 2022
Author: USDA | Posted: June 25, 2010
Descriptions: The U.S. Department of Agriculture (USDA) is developing a comprehensive regional strategy to help recharge the rural American economy. The strategy targets barriers to the development of a successful biofuels market that will achieve, or surpass, the current U.S. Renewable Fuels Standards (RFS2), as set out in the Energy Independence and Security Act of 2007 (EISA). The RFS2, implementation provisions of which are detailed in the Environmental Protection Agency’s RFS2 Final Rule (March 26, 2010 Federal Register), becomes effective on July 1, 2010. The RFS2 will create new market opportunities for American agriculture to help fulfill its mandate: the American economy will be using 36 billion gallons (bg) of renewable transportation fuel per year in its transportation fuel supply by 2022.
USDA, strategy, biofuels, RFS2, renewable fuels standard
2008 Energy Balance for the Corn-Ethanol Industry
Author: USDA | Posted: June 21, 2010
Descriptions: The Agricultural Resource Management Survey of corn growers for the year 2005 and the 2008 survey of dry mill ethanol plants are used to estimate the net energy balance of corn ethanol. This report measures all conventional fossil fuel energy used in the production of 1 gallon of corn ethanol. The ratio is about 2.3 BTU of ethanol for 1 BTU of energy inputs, when a portion of total energy input is allocated to byproduct and fossil fuel is used for processing energy. The ratio is somewhat higher for some firms that are partially substituting biomass energy in processing energy.
usda, 2008, energy balance
Letter to President Obama on E15 Testing
Author: Growth Energy | Posted: June 21, 2010
Descriptions: On June 17, 2010, Growth Energy sent a letter to President Obama urging him to take whatever steps are necessary to accelerate the Department of Energy testing required for the Green Jobs Waiver application.
e15, green jobs waiver, department of energy, doe, epa, testing
Comparing Performance and Cost of Various Ethanol Blends and Standard Unleaded Gasoline
Author: American Coalition for Ethanol | Posted: May 20, 2010
Descriptions: Mileage and Cost comparison using Unleaded, E10, E20, and E30: As ethanol production and use has expanded from coast to coast in the United States, increased public discussion and media attention has focused on various properties of those blends versus standard unleaded gasoline. Among the most frequent matters for debate has been the matter of fuel efficiency and the resulting effect on cost of vehicle operation.
ethanol, fuel economy, performance, flex30
The CHOICE Act support letter
Author: Growth Energy | Posted: April 26, 2010
Descriptions: The undersigned organizations represent a broad cross section of renewable energy and alternative fuel interests. We would like to express our support for The CHOICE Act (S. 1627), which Senator Harkin and Senator Lugar introduced, and to offer our assistance in assuring passage of this landmark legislation. The title says it all — consumers should have options in choosing energy, or CHOICE, and should be able to choose from a range of fuels.
choice act, legislation, harkin, lugar, reid
Growth Energy Ethanol Policy Brief 2010
Author: Growth Energy | Posted: April 04, 2010
Descriptions: This briefing paper is designed to give an overview of the role ethanol plays in achieving the goals laid out by President Obama to expand the use of renewable energy, while reducing our dependence on foreign oil and addressing the serious challenge of climate change.
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Removal of Ethanol Import Tariff
Author: IHS Global Insight | Posted: April 04, 2010
Descriptions: The U.S. ethanol industry has been supported by various government policies, such as the ethanol tax credit and a tariff on imports of ethanol for fuel. Recently, the future of some of these policies has been put in doubt. The ethanol tax credit, which had been at 51 cents per gallon for many years, was lowered to 45 cents per gallon. This change was part of the 2008 Farm Bill, which was crafted and enacted at a time of record-high prices for many energy products, including gasoline. The 2008 Farm Bill included a continuation of the tariff on imports of ethanol, but that provision expires at the end of 2010, and continuation of the import tariff beyond that point is in question. In the absence of the import tariff, the question is not whether ethanol imports will occur, but how much the import volume will be. Although imported ethanol could come from several countries and be made from several feedstocks, ethanol made in Brazil from sugar cane is most likely to be imported in large quantities. Under the proposed RFS 2 rules, sugar-based ethanol from Brazil could compete not only with corn-based ethanol in the United States, but also in the "advanced" biofuels portion of the mandate.
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State-level Economic Impacts of Removing the Ethanol Import Tariff
Author: Dennis P. Robinson, Ph.D. | Posted: April 04, 2010
Descriptions: U.S. ethanol production has benefited from several protective government policies—such as an ethanol tax credit and an import tariff on ethanol for fuel. Since 1999 the number of operating ethanol plants has tripled and their production capacity has experienced a five-fold increase. There are 26 states that have one or more currently operating ethanol plants and two addition states with ethanol plants under construction (RFA, 2008). In addition, there are 24 ethanol plants either under construction or undergoing major expansion. However, recent events have cast doubt concerning the future of these policies. For example, as part of the 2008 Farm Bill the ethanol tax credit has been lowered from 51 to 45 cents per gallon. Even though the 2008 Farm Bill includes a continuation of the import tariff on ethanol for fuel the provision expires in 2010.
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Growth Energy Road Map to a Greener America
Author: Growth Energy | Posted: April 04, 2010
Descriptions: The U.S. economy has experienced a record decline, with unemployment nearly double digits, millions of Americans out of work and struggling. At the same time, the price of foreign oil continues to rise, reaching $73 a barrel last week. We continue to spend $50 billion a year protecting foreign oil fields and shipping routes. The Washington Post has equated the rise of oil from $80 to $100 a barrel as having the same impact on the U.S. economy as a $150 billion tax hike. We must confront our nation’s addiction to foreign oil, and potentially devastating effect on our environment. The solution to these problems — from creating green jobs to becoming more energy independent — can be found right here at home, right now, with America’s farmers and ethanol producers.
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Indirect Land Use Emissions in the Life Cycle of Biofuels: Regulations vs Science
Author: Adam J. Liska and Richard K. Perrin, University of Nebraska, Lincoln | Posted: April 04, 2010
Descriptions: Recent legislative mandates have been enacted at state and federal levels with the purpose of reducing life cycle greenhouse gas (GHG) emissions from transportation fuels. This legislation encourages the substitution of fossil fuels with ‘low-carbon’ fuels. The burden is put on regulatory agencies to determine the GHG-intensity of various fuels, and those agencies naturally look to science for guidance. Even though much progress has been made in determining the direct life cycle emissions from the production of biofuels, the science underpinning the estimation of potentially significant emissions from indirect land use change (ILUC) is in its infancy. As legislation requires inclusion of ILUC emissions in the biofuel life cycle, regulators are in a quandary over accurate implementation. In this article,
we review these circumstances and offer some suggestions for how to proceed with the science of indirect effects and regulation in the face of uncertain science.
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Growth Energy Policy Brief: The Truth About Food Prices
Author: Growth Energy | Posted: April 04, 2010
Descriptions: For much of 2008, grocery manufacturers and their allies in Washington blamed corn-based ethanol for a dramatic increase in food prices. But the dramatic drop in corn prices that followed demonstrated how flawed “food versus fuel” claims have been. Corn and other agricultural commodity prices shrunk by more than half, yet food prices continued to rise. The implication is clear: U.S. ethanol demand,while growing, plays a marginal role in total consumer food pricing.
food vs fuel, policy brief, paper, gma, grocery manufacturers association, myths
Growth Energy Renewable Fuel Standard 2: Hearing Testimony
Author: Mark D. Stowers, Ph.D. | Posted: March 24, 2010
Descriptions: Testimony of Mark D. Stowers, PhD. on the proposed rule intended to implement changes to the Clean Air Act's Renewable Fuel Standard program.
ethanol, renewable fuel standard, RFS, EPA, environmental protection agency, environment, economy, green jobs waiver, greenhouse gas emissions, indirect land use change, yields,
Growth Energy EPA Waiver: EPA’s Response
Author: Environmental Protection Agency, Gina McCarthy | Posted: December 01, 2009
Descriptions: In EPA’s letter, the agency states that its engineering assessments indicate that the “robust fuel, engine and emissions control systems on newer vehicles (likely 2001 and newer model years) will likely be able to accommodate higher ethanol blends, such as E15.”
EPA, green jobs waiver, gina mccarthy, e15
Growth Energy EPA Waiver: Comments Filed with EPA
Author: Growth Energy | Posted: July 20, 2009
Descriptions: Comments filed with EPA on July 20, 2009.
e15, green jobs waiver
Growth Energy EPA Waiver: Application
Author: Growth Energy | Posted: March 06, 2009
Descriptions: This is the application for a waiver pursuant to section 211(f)(4) of the Clean Air Act for E15 submitted by Growth Energy on behalf of 52 United States ethanol manufacturers and additional partners.
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Growth Energy EPA Waiver: Cover Letter
Author: General Wesley Clark, Jeff Broin | Posted: March 06, 2009
Descriptions: Cover letter from General Wesley Clark and Jeff Broin accompanied the 2009 waiver application to increase ethanol blend limit to 15 percent.
lisa, jackson, margo, oge, clark, broin,
Growth Energy EPA Waiver: Environmental White Paper
Author: Jim Mennell | Posted: March 06, 2009
Descriptions: Advancing from ethanol-gasoline blends at 10 percent ethanol to ethanol blends at 15 percent ethanol or higher not only will increase energy security and independence, enhance economic development, create American jobs, retain billions of dollars in the U.S. economy, and reduce transporation costs, such advancement will result in significant benefits to the environment.
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Growth Energy EPA Waiver: Mancini Catalytic Converter Letter
Author: Doug Mancini | Posted: March 06, 2009
Descriptions: Doug Mancini, former Delphi and Ford Motor Company engineer, explains that catalytic converters in flex fuel vehicles and non flex fuel vehicles are the same.
EPA, waiver, e15, e-15, e10, e-10, 10 percent, 15 percent
Growth Energy EPA Waiver: Scientists Letter to EPA
Author: Jim Balzer, Michael Harrigan, Dr. Bruce Jones, Doug Mancini, Gary Mead | Posted: March 06, 2009
Descriptions: A group of automotive fuel systems experts with over 100 years of combined experience, write EPA leadership requesting the use of 15 percent ethanol in gasoline.
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Growth Energy EPA Waiver: Economic Impacts of Increasing the Ethanol Blend Limit
Author: Principal Investigators: Nancy Hodur, F. Larry Leistritz, Ph.D., Donald Senechal | Posted: March 04, 2009
Descriptions: The objectives of this study were to determine nationwide economic impacts of an increase in the ethanol blend limit to 15 percent. One time capital investment impacts and annual impacts from operations were estimated as well as the impact on final demand for output, earning and employment (direct and secondary impacts).
ethanol, economy, construction, operations, ethanol plant, renewable fuels association, rfa, economic impact, direct impacts, secondary impacts, jobs, employment, bgy, corn, blend limit, 20 percent, e15, e20,
Effects of Intermediate Ethanol Blends on Legacy Vehicles and Small Non-Road Engines, Report 1 – U
Author: Oak Ridge National Laboratory for the U.S. Department of Energy | Posted: February 17, 2009
Descriptions: Peer-reviewed study regarding the effects of E-15 and E-20 on motor vehicles and small non-road engines concludes that when E-15 and E-20 were compared to traditional gasoline, there are no significant changes in vehicle tailpipe emissions, vehicle driveability, or small non-road engine emissions as ethanol content increased.
e15 e20
Growth Energy Policy Brief: California’s Dangerous Gamble with Indirect Land Use Change
Author: Growth Energy | Posted: February 01, 2009
Descriptions: Reducing carbon emissions in transportation fuel, a subject of recent national debate, is in fact an ambitious and admirable goal for the state of California. It is also a goal fraught with danger. Unless sound, proven science is used to determine carbon emissions, the state and nation could suffer the reverse effect: a transportation system that actually emits more pollution.
indirect land use change, transportation, ethanol, california, CA, greenhouse gas emissions, ghg, environment, carbon, emissions, fuel, air resources board, schwarzenegger, governor, ARB, carbon accounting, crops, displace, theory, university of nebraska, iluc, delucchi, epa, environmental protection agency, biofuel, biofuels, brazil, farmers, standards, life cycle,
Improvements in Life Cycle Energy Efficiency and Greenhouse Gas Emissions of Corn-Ethanol
Author: Adam J. Liska, Haishun S. Yang, Virgil R. Bremer, Terry J. Klopfenstein, Daniel T. Walters, Galen E. Erickson, and Kenneth G. Cassman | Posted: January 21, 2009
Descriptions: Corn-ethanol production is expanding rapidly with the adoption of improved technologies to increase energy efficiency and profitability in crop production, ethanol conversion, and coproduct use. Life cycle assessment can evaluate the impact of these changes on environmental performance metrics. To this end, we analyzed the life cycles of corn-ethanol systems accounting for the majority of U.S. capacity to estimate greenhouse gas (GHG) emissions and energy efficiencies on the basis of updated values for crop management and yields, biorefinery operation, and coproduct utilization.
corn, ethanol, production, improved technologies, energy efficiency, profitability, crop production, ethanol conversion, coproduct, Life cycle, environmental, corn-ethanol, greenhouse gas emissions, ghg, crop management, yields, biorefinery, gasoline, farmers, cellulosic, transportation fuels, journal of industrial ecology, industrial, ecology,biofuel
Growth Energy Policy Brief: The Truth About Food Prices
Author: Growth Energy | Posted: November 11, 2008
Descriptions: For much of 2008, grocery manufacturers and their allies in Washington blamed corn-based ethanol for a dramatic increase in food prices. But the dramatic drop in corn prices that followed demonstrated how flawed “food versus fuel” claims have been. Corn and other agricultural commodity prices shrunk by more than half, yet food prices continued to rise. The implication is clear: U.S. ethanol demand,while growing, plays a marginal role in total consumer food pricing.
food, vs, v, vs., fuel, grocery, manufacturers, prices, corn, versus, ethanol
E20: The Feasibility of 20 Percent Ethanol Blends by Volume as a Motor Fuel
Author: State of Minnesota and the Renewable Fuels Association | Posted: March 18, 2008
Descriptions: This study evaluated effects of E-0, E-6, E-20 and E-85 on the evaporative emissions rates from permeation in five newer California vehicles and found that there was no statistically significant increase in diurnal permeation rates between E-6 and E-20.
E-0, E-6, E-20, E-85 vehicles evaporative emissions
Growth Energy EPA Waiver: Optimal Ethanol Blend-Level Investigation
Author: Energy & Environmental Research Center, Minnesota Center for Automotive Research for the American Coalition for Ethanol | Posted: November 07, 2007
Descriptions: This report studied the effects of ethanol blends ranging from E-10 to E-85 on motor vehicles and found that exhaust emissions levels for all vehicles at all levels of ethanol blend were within the applicable Clean Air Act standards.
vehicle mileage fuel economy hwfet miles per gallon
Growth Energy EPA Waiver: Fuel Permeation from Automotive Systems: E0, E6, E10, E20 and E85
Author: Coordinating Research Council, Inc. | Posted: December 12, 2006
Descriptions: Study evaluated effects of E-0, E-6, E-20 and E-85 on the evaporative emissions rates from permeation in five newer California vehicles and found that there was no statistically significant increase in diurnal permeation rates between E-6 and E-20.
E-0 E-6 E-20 E-85 emissions permeation
Growth Energy EPA Waiver: Blending of Ethanol in Gasoline for Spark Ignition Engines
Author: Stockholm University et al. | Posted: May 17, 2005
Descriptions: This study tested and compared evaporative emissions from E-0, E-5, E-10, and E-15 and found lower total hydrocarbon emissions and lower evaporative emissions from E-15 than from E-10 and E-5.
evaporative emissions blends
A Rational Approach to Qualifying Materials for Use in Fuel Systems
Author: CEC and SAE | Posted: June 19, 2000
Descriptions: The paper will describe the rationale for selecting the fuel surrogate fluids and why this new SAE standard should replace all existing test fuel or test fluid standards for fuel system materials testing.
fuel systems
Use of Mid-Range Ethanol/Gasoline Blends in Unmodified Passenger Cars and Light Duty Trucks
Author: Minnesota Center for Automotive Research | Posted: April 20, 1999
Descriptions: One-year study evaluated the effects of E-10 and E-30 in fifteen older vehicles in “real world” driving conditions; found no effect on driveability or component compatibility from either fuel and found that regulated exhaust emissions from both fuels were well below federal standards.
e10 e30
