Biorenewables: Helping or
Hurting the Environment?
Chad Hart
Center for Agricultural and Rural Development
Iowa State University
February 20, 2007
Home Ground: Language for an American Landscape
3rd Annual Symposium on Wildness, Wilderness & the
Creative Imagination
Ames, Iowa
E-mail: chart@iastate.edu
Iowa’s Ethanol Boom
4,000
3,500
(million gallons)
3,000
2,500
2,000
1,500
1,000
500
0
2002
2003
2004
2005
Ethanol Capacity
2006
2007
4,000
16
3,500
14
3,000
12
2,500
10
2,000
8
1,500
6
1,000
4
500
2
0
0
2002
2003
2004
Ethanol Capacity
2005
2006
Corn Acreage
2007
(million acres)
(million gallons)
Iowa’s Corn Acreage
4,000
16
3,500
14
3,000
12
2,500
10
2,000
8
1,500
6
1,000
4
500
2
0
0
2002
2003
2004
Ethanol Capacity
2005
2006
Corn Acreage
2007
(million acres)
(million gallons)
Corn in 2007?
6
Corn Acreage
6
20
0
1
20
0
6
19
9
1
19
9
6
19
8
1
19
8
6
19
7
1
19
7
6
19
6
1
19
6
6
19
5
1
19
5
6
19
4
1
19
4
6
19
3
1
19
3
19
2
(million acres)
Iowa’s Historical Corn Acreage
15
14
13
12
11
10
9
8
6
Corn Acreage
6
20
0
1
20
0
6
19
9
1
19
9
6
19
8
1
19
8
6
19
7
1
19
7
6
19
6
1
19
6
6
19
5
1
19
5
6
19
4
1
19
4
6
19
3
1
19
3
19
2
(million acres)
Compared to History
15
14
13
12
11
10
9
8
The 2007 Farm Bill
• Debate is ongoing
• Will likely be voted on this summer
(effective for 2008 crops)
• Two key titles:
– Conservation
– Energy
Conservation Title
• In the 2002 farm bill, emphasis shifted to
working lands
– Environmental Quality Incentives Program
(EQIP)
– Conservation Security Program (CSP)
– Wildlife Habitat Incentives Program (WHIP)
– Conservation of Private Grazing Lands
(CPGL)
Energy Title
• New title for 2002 farm bill
• Provided additional support for bio-based
products
– Federal procurement of bio-based products
– Biorefinery grants
– Biodiesel Fuel Education Program
– Renewable Energy Development Program