Renewable Energy Roadmap: Rural America Can Prosper

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http://www.renewableenergyaccess.com/rea/news/infocus/story;jsessionid=0307329065FC7576A28C3E340DB8EB4B?id=46961

A new economic analysis conducted by researchers at the University of Tennessee outlines how America's vast natural resources can be tapped to produce 25 percent of the nation's energy supply from renewable sources by 2025. With continued advancements in technology and significant shifts in cropping patterns, U.S. farmers, ranchers and foresters can contribute to this energy goal while still providing abundant supplies of food, feed and fiber. While a variety of renewable energy resources, including wind, hydro, solar, and geothermal, would be needed to meet the goal, the study principally examines the impact of producing the amount of biomass needed from agriculture and forestry.

Executive Summary

This study was designed to determine the feasibility of America's farms, forests and ranches providing 25 percent of U.S. total energy needs while continuing to produce safe, abundant and affordable food, feed and fiber.

In addition, the analysis looks at the associated impacts of achieving the goal on the agricultural sector and the nation's overall economy. The 25x'25 Project Steering Committee established the "25x'25" vision and, along with Energy Future Coalition and the Energy Foundation, financed the study. The analysis was conducted by a team of professors and analysts from the University of Tennessee (UT) during 2005-2006.

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To meet the 25x'25 vision, 25 percent of the projected 117.7 quads, or 29.42 quads (henceforth referred to as the "All Energy" or AE scenario), are needed from renewable energy sources. At present, an estimated 1.87 quads are produced from biomass (agricultural/forestry) resources in the production of electricity and/or heat. Based on information from the RAND study, it is estimated that, by 2025, 12.10 quads will be annually produced from geothermal, solar photovoltaic, hydro, and wind generation. The sum of those two is 13.97 quads. Therefore, to meet the 25x'25 goal of 29.42 quads, an additional 15.45 quads would need to come from agricultural and forestry lands.

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