Fall 199y
U.S. Department of Energy
Bioenergy Feedstock Development Program at
Oak Ridge National Laboratory
Energy Crops Forum was published periodically by the Bioenergy
Feedstock Development Program, Environmental Sciences Division, Oak Ridge
National Laboratory, managed by UT-Battelle, LLC., for the U.S. Department of
Energy under Contract No. DE-AC05-00OR22725.
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Table of Contents
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Each year, the Bioenergy Feedstock Development Program (BFDP) collects its U.S.
Department of Energy (DOE) program sponsors, collaborators, cooperators, and
subcontractors in one place to hear about their recent achievements and to plan
for future ones. This year's conclave was held on the campus of Oklahoma State
University in Stillwater, Oklahoma, on September 8–11. Unique to this year's
mix was a big contingent from several agencies within the U.S. Department of
Agriculture (USDA) who attended to establish more formal linkages between the
research funded by the two cabinet–level departments. The first day's plenary
sessions featured updates from the DOE managers, status reports by the BFDP
Task Leaders, and presentations describing USDA research and analysis
activities that are relevant to BFDP's research. On the second day, we all
scattered into task-specific sessions for more in-depth discussions. This issue
of Forum presents the BFDP Task Leader's 1997 summary reports.
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The major objective of BFDP's Short Rotation Woody Crop task is to select and
improve short-rotation woody crops and cropping systems so that biomass can
ultimate supply up to 15% of the nation's total energy requirements. The task
currently includes 12 projects and maintains an integration of genetics,
breeding, physiology, and/or biotechnology to allow for continued progress
towards the development of a model wood energy crop, Populus. Limited work on
Salix (willow) is also being supported. BFDP Populus and Salix research
projects have been strategically placed in the United States based on the
natural range for the species and productivity potentials of the region, and
U.S. energy needs.
In each region of the country, new information and materials were generated by
BFDP woody crop research in FY 1997. In the South, 232 new crosses of Populus
were made to produce improved varieties. Seventy-eight new genetic geographic
sources of Populus germ plasm were collected and added to the southern
regional breeding and testing projects. New trials to evaluate more than 20 Salix
clones were established in New York and Wisconsin using crop management systems
that have proven successful in Sweden. First-year survival and growth at both
locations have been good. In the North Central region, 107 selected clones
planted in four regional hybrid poplar tests sites in 1996 (56 clones) and in
1997 (51 clones) continue to exceed the average height and diameter growth of
the two commercial check clones. Twelve new clones with commercial potential
have been identified and are being scaled up for future large–block clonal
tests. Work being performed in the Pacific Northwest, applicable to the whole
United States, includes development of transgenic materials and DNA markers.
Three new sets of transgenic Populus clones have been developed; these clones
express Round-up™ resistance , Bt-mediated (a natural insecticide) insect
resistance, and male sterility. The "Round-up Ready" transgenic clones in
Oregon continue to perform well in field tests. Ten new DNA markers were linked
to quantitative trait loci in Populus. These new markers are associated
with rooting ability, phenolic glucoside concentrations (associated with
drought tolerance), and resistance to Melampsora, a fungal disease. New work
includes a marker-aided selection experiment based solely on the presence or
absence of the disease resistance marker.
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The objective of this task is to select and improve herbaceous biomass crops in
an environmentally and sound manner that can be economically produced on a wide
variety of sites. In screening trials, switchgrass (Panicum virgatum)
was very productive on a wide range of sites with relatively low levels of
fertilizers and pesticides, leading to its selection as a model species for the
BFDP.
Nine switchgrass research projects were under way in 1997. Most were conducted
by cooperators at the USDA or universities. The South Eastern and South Central
states, where warm–season perennial grasses such as switchgrass typically
attain their highest yields, were the prime focus. Additional breeding and
management studies were conducted in the Upper Plains and Lake States.
Accomplishments include identifying the best current switchgrass varieties for
southern, middle, and upper latitudes in the United States; documenting both
the genetic makeup and breeding requirements of over 100 available switchgrass
varieties; and completing initial tests on new varieties selected through 3
years of successive breeding to improve yields. New understanding has been
gained about the most effective management strategies to improve and sustain
high yields, including both fertilization requirements and cutting frequency.
Documentation of improvements in soil quality, notably increases in soil
organic matter, are enhancing our understanding of the benefits of switchgrass
cultivation for long–term improvement of soil fertility and carbon storage. In
connection with efforts of a major chemical company, this research has also
contributed to the development of a new herbicide that will aid in controlling
weeds during the critical establishment phase of switchgrass cultivation. New
techniques to produce hundreds of clonal switchgrass plantlets from a single
parent plant through tissue culture have also been developed.
The herbaceous research has also contributed to planning efforts in the
commercial bioenergy sector. Projects to produce electrical power in Iowa and
ethanol in Tennessee are providing important opportunities to apply the results
of the BFDP's switchgrass research to commercial–scale bioenergy production.
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The Systems Integration and Analysis task provides timely tools and analysis to
public, industrial, and government organizations interested in or engaged in
biomass energy research and development. The task's objective is to understand
the potential for energy crop production; the constraints to energy crop
economic competitiveness; and to assess the extent to which social goals such
as jobs, clean air and water, and national security can be satisfied with
bioenergy crop production. This task is also responsible for identifying
locations where energy crop development will be most advantageous economically.
Work in this task incorporates and synthesizes results from all BFDP research
and scale-up efforts.
In 1997, a major study was undertaken for DOE to evaluate how a bioethanol
market might develop over the next 30 years. Two analysis tools – BIOCOST and
ORECCL – were also released to the public. BIOCOST is a user-friendly
Excel™-based program for evaluating the production costs of switchgrass and
hybrid poplar. ORECCL is a national database that contains the current best
estimates for switchgrass and hybrid poplar yields in the United States,
county-level information on acreages of various types of land (cropland,
pasture, Conservation Reserve Program) that might be available for energy crop
production, and the likely costs of producing the crops.
An 11-state geographic information system for evaluating the spatial variability
in the cost and environmental consequences of supplying feedstocks from energy
crops to bioenergy facilities reached near-completion, as did a model
(EPIC-ECOPHYS) for predicting hybrid poplar stand growth and environmental
impacts. EPIC-ECOPHYS was developed for the BFDP by the U.S. Forest Service and
the Minnesota Natural Resources Research Institute.
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The Market Development task focused on analyzing the potential of various
marketing mechanisms for bioenergy crops and facilitating interactions between
the many parties that must work together to make bioenergy projects succeed:
policymakers, government agencies, entrepreneurs, financial institutions,
industries, landowners, and farmers. Several DOE-supported projects involved
the development of farmer-owned agricultural cooperatives. Each of the
cooperatives under consideration will use a different bioenergy crop: willow in
New York, hybrid poplar in Minnesota, switchgrass in Iowa, and alfalfa in
Minnesota.
Agricultural marketing mechanisms for biomass crops could take different forms
such as long–term contracts, short–term contracts, and sales through
agricultural cooperatives. Profits and losses may hinge on the market sales
mechanism chosen. As agricultural producers search for ways to reduce risk and
maximize profit, the BFDP seeks to understand their concerns and help them
explore the various options with inductries or utilities interested in
purchasing energy crops.
In several circumstances where energy crops are beginning to be produced,
farmers and electric utilities are signing long–term contracts. These contracts
typically include the quantity and quality of biomass to be delivered, the
timing and method of delivery, and the price to be paid. Many of these
contracts include clauses that impose penalties to suppliers and users of the
bioenergy feedstock who fail to carry out the terms of the contract.
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The Environmental Effects Research Task focuses on research to determine how the
establishment, management, and harvest of woody and herbaceous crops can
maximize environmental benefits for soil quality, water quality and
biodiversity. Three studies in the Southeast are measuring erosion, runoff
quality and quantity, chemical infiltration, and physical and chemical changes
in soil associated with production of biomass crops. These field studies are
also investigating how the environmental effects of biomass crop production
change with crop maturity and canopy closure. Data from the three sites are
being used in conjunction with a watershed-scale study established to identify
management techniques to maximize the sustainability of biomass crop
production. Results from the studies in the Southeast and from monitoring
chemical movement at hybrid poplar sites in Minnesota will be used to model
nutrient and hydrologic budgets for biomass crop plantings. In 1997, a larger
watershed-scale study was established and instrumented in the Southeast. A
biodiversity survey was completed and data analysis is in progress.
Surveys of breeding birds and small mammals in Minnesota have shown that hybrid
poplar plantings provide habitat for a greater variety of species than row
crops, though they are not used as extensively as natural forests. A study of
sweetgum-sycamore plantings in the Southeast is evaluating how breeding birds
use plantings of different acreages, species, ages, and landscape. The data
will be compared to data from naturally regenerating forests that have the same
characteristics. Habitation by breeding birds seem to be similar in the older
plantings and natural forests.
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Jim Craig of the USDA Agricultural Research Service (ARS) and the BFDP's Janet
Cushman organized a session that focused on USDA's programs and capabilities.
Presenters included Rodney Bothast, Robert Moreau, Richard Koegel, and Ken
Vogel of the ARS; Howard Rosen and Jud Isebrands of the USDA Forest Service;
David Burgdorf and Tom Kautze of the USDA Natural Resource Conservation Service
and Bradley Karmen of the USDA Farm Service Agency. Daniel DeLa Torre Ugarte
from the University of Tennessee described collaborative economic modeling
efforts involving BFDP, University of Tennessee, and the USDA.
A meeting was also held to discuss mechanisms for establishing coordination
between the BFDP and the various USDA agencies. Lynn Wright opened the session
with an overview of BFDP's activities and planned directions. The ensuing
discussions made it clear that DOE and USDA were not duplicating each other's
efforts and that much of the USDA's feedstock effort is cost-shared through DOE
interagency agreements. The group agreed on the importance of continued
communication and coordination on biomass feedstock research and agreed to urge
the reinitiation of the Memorandum of Understanding on bioenergy between DOE
and USDA. In addition, participants discussed new areas for cooperation, such
as co-products, environmental issues, harvesting equipment, and techniques.
To ensure ongoing communication after this initial meeting, individuals from the
USDA agencies agreed to take responsibility for coordinating and establishing
communication channels. Participants agreed that the greatest priority is to
establish a dynamic process for communicating needs of the bioenergy program in
sufficient specificity that action within USDA can be evaluated. Although some
mechanisms were discussed, this is still an unsolved problem. One suggestion
was to establish a program–level steering committee with responsibilities for
assuring basic communication of issues. Establishing communication links to a
broad range of the offices within USDA is a firm step towards future progress.
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Each year, the National Association of State High School Associations selects a
debate topic. This year, students will be arguing the merits of "Resolved: That
the federal government should establish a policy to substantially increase
renewable energy use in the United States." The BFDP has compiled a package of
materials to respond to numerous requests. If you would like a copy, please
send a request to the address on the last page of this newsletter.
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USDA and DOE have joined to modify POLYSYS, a modeling system, to include
dedicated bioenergy crops. POLYSYS is a multiproduct, multisector, multiregion
agricultural model developed and maintained by the University of Tennessee
Agricultural Policy Analysis Center. The model is used for policy and economic
analysis by the USDA Economic Research Service. Switchgrass, hybrid poplar, and
willow will be added to this agricultural crop model. The BFDP's BIOCOST model
and ORECCL database and USDA statistics will be used to provide energy crop
data such as land suitable for production, expected yields, and expected
production costs.
The modified POLYSYS model will be used to (1) estimate quantities of bioenergy
crops produced under alternative energy/bioenergy crop price levels, (2)
estimate changes in agricultural cropland use resulting from the introduction
of bioenergy crops, (3) estimate the impact of agricultural and economic policy
scenarios on the adoption of bioenergy crops, and (4) estimate the economic
impact that introducing bioenergy crops will have on the agricultural sector.
The model will also be used to examine the issue of competition between
conventional and bioenergy crops and will address questions such as how many
acres of cropland may be used to produce bioenergy crops, what prices will be
needed to entice farmers to produce bioenergy crops, what impacts bioenergy
crop production will have on the prices and quantities of conventional crops,
and how different policies might affect the interaction of conventional and
bioenergy crops. Preliminary results are expected by the end of calendar year
1997.
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