Renewable Energy from Forest Resources in the United States / Edition 1

by Barry Solomon, Valerie A. Luzadis

Overview

Interest in biomass energy resources from forests, farms and other sources has been rapidly increasing in recent years because of growing concern with reducing carbon dioxide emissions and developing alternatives to increasingly scarce, expensive and insecure oil supplies.

The uniqueness of this book is its coverage of biomass energy markets in the US from an economic as well as technical perspective. Existing books typically focus on single markets or technical aspects at the exclusion of economics, and have given greater coverage to biomass energy outside the US. This edited collection has three main parts. Part One provides a historical overview of forest biomass energy use in the US; the major technologies, economics, market prospects, and policies. Part Two presents forest biomass energy assessments, including life cycle and sustainability perspectives, and Part Three includes five sets of regional case studies. After reviewing the history of wood energy use in the US and technology options, the book shows that forests could displace sixteen per cent of domestic transportation fuel use in 2030.

Renewable Energy from Forest Resources in the United States includes a Foreword from Chris Flavin, President of the Worldwatch Institute.

Product Details

ISBN-13:	9780415776004
Publisher:	Taylor & Francis
Publication date:	10/30/2008
Series:	Routledge Explorations in Environmental Economics
Pages:	350
Product dimensions:	6.20(w) x 9.30(h) x 1.00(d)

About the Author

Barry D. Solomon is Professor of Geography and Environmental Policy in the Department of Social Sciences at Michigan Technological University, USA.

Valerie A. Luzadis is Associate Professor in the Faculty of Forest and Natural Resources Management, SUNY College of Environmental Science and Forestry, Syracuse, USA.

Table of Contents

Part One: Overview, 1. Introduction Barry D. Solomon and Nicholas H. Johnson, 2. Market Analysis and Considerations for Renewable Energy Technologies Dana M. Johnson, 3. From Grain to Cellulosic Ethanol: History, Economics and Policy Barry D. Solomon, Justin R. Barnes and Kathleen E. Halvorsen, Part Two: Forest Biomass Energy Assessments, 4. Resource Assesment, Economics and Technology for Collection and Harvesting Erin G. Wilkerson and Robert D. Perlack, 5. An Integrated Supply System for Forest Biomass Timothy L. Jenkins and John W. Sutherland, 6. Application of Biomass-Derived Fuels for Internal Combustion Engines with a Focus on Transportation Jeffrey D. Naber and Jeremy J. Worm, 7. Bioenergy, Biomass and Biodiversity David J. Flaspohler, Robert E. Froese and Christopher R. Webster, 8. A Review of Life Cycle Assessment Studies on Renewable Energy Derived from Forest Resources Qiong Zhang, Kaitlin R. Goldstein and James R. Mihelcic, 9. Using a Systems Approach to Improve Bioenergy Sustainability Assessment Valerie A. Luzadis, Timothy A. Volk and Thomas S. Buchholz, Part Three: Regional Case Studies, 10. Cost and Financial Feasibility of Two Biomass Power Technologies Dana M. Johnson, James H. Whitmarsh and Jillian R. Waterstraut, 11 Willow Biomass Production for Bioenergy, Biofuels and Bioproducts in New York Timothy A. Volk and Valerie A. Luzadis, 12. Woody Biomass Feedstock Availability, Production Costs and Implications for Bioenergy Conversion in Mississippi Donald R. Grebner, Gustavo Perez-Verdin, Changyou Sun, Ian A. Munn, Emily B. Schultz, and Thomas G. Matney, 13. Regional Economic Impacts of Cellulosic Ethanol Development in the North Central States Barry D. Solomon, 14. Wood Methanol as a Renewable Energy Source in the Western United States Daniel J. Vogt, Kristiina A. Vogt, John C. Gordon, Michael L. Miller, Calvin Mukumoto, Ravi Upadhye and Michael H. Miller

Editorial Reviews

"Solomon and Luzadis give experts from each of these fields a say in this fascinating and timely addition to the series Routledge Explorations in Environmental Economics. Perspectives from more than 30 academic contributors combine to offer a balanced, holistic, and readable overview of the possibilities and challenges associated with increased use of forest biomass for fuel. ... Highly recommended." — CHOICE (Sept 2009, Vol. 47); M.K. Bomford, Kentucky State University.

From the Publisher