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Expanding Biofuel Production and the Transition to Advanced Biofuels: Lessons for Sustainability from the Upper Midwest: Summary of a Workshop (2010)

Chapter: Appendix A: Workshop Agenda

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Suggested Citation: "Appendix A: Workshop Agenda." National Research Council. 2010. Expanding Biofuel Production and the Transition to Advanced Biofuels: Lessons for Sustainability from the Upper Midwest: Summary of a Workshop. Washington, DC: The National Academies Press. doi: 10.17226/12806.

Appendix A
Workshop Agenda

Expanding Biofuel Production: Sustainability and the Transition to Advanced Biofuels

Lessons from the Upper Midwest for Sustainability

Date: June 23-24, 2009

Location: The Lussier Family Heritage Center

3101 Lake Farm Rd., Madison, WI 53711

Workshop Objectives:

Create an opportunity for dialogue between researchers and policy makers on the sustainability impacts of expanding biofuel production at a state/regional level.
Explore the lessons that can be learned from the experience with corn-based ethanol and the likely impacts of advanced biofuels.
Identify biofuel-related policy objectives and challenges facing state officials.
Provide examples of research that may be useful to state decision makers.
Evaluate various tools and indicators that may be of use to state policy makers in assessing likely sustainability impacts and tradeoffs of policy choices.

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Tuesday, June 23, 2009

LUSSIER FAMILY HERITAGE CENTER

9:00 AM

Introduction

Emmy Simmons, Co-Chair, Roundtable on Science and Technology for Sustainability, The National Academies

Welcome

Molly Jahn, Dean, College of Agricultural and Life Sciences, University of Wisconsin

9:15 AM

Workshop Overview

Gary Radloff, Wisconsin State Department of Agriculture

SETTING THE STAGE

9:30 AM	U.S. Energy Independence and Security Act (EISA), Implications for State Biofuels Policies Paul Argyropoulos and Bruce Rodan, U.S. Environmental Protection Agency
9:45 AM	Overview: Regional Biofuels Policies (Wisconsin, Minnesota, and Iowa) Brendan Jordan, Great Plains Institute Judy Ziewacz, Director, Wisconsin Office of Energy Independence John Yunker, Office of the Legislative Auditor, Minnesota
10:15 AM	Discussion
10:30 AM	Break
10:45 AM	A Transition to Advanced Biofuels: Where Are We? John Miranowski, National Research Council Panel Member, Report: Alternative Liquid Transportation Fuels John Regalbuto, National Science Foundation, Federal Inter-Agency Biomass R&D Board, Conversion Technologies Assessment Report
11:15 AM	Questions and Discussion
11:30 AM	Sustainability and a Transition to Advanced Biofuels John Sheehan, University of Minnesota, Institute on the Environment
	The Economy—economics of production, economic benefits, effects on other industries. Affected Environment—water quality and quantity, watersheds, air quality and health, soil erosion/nutrient-

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	level changes (including cross-media effects), land-use changes, habitat protection (including agroforestry and wood energy crops).
	Social Impacts—effects on local communities and institutions of expanding production arrival or disappearance of refineries; acceptability/willingness to adopt new fuels/technologies; changes in labor force, culture, education.
12:00 PM	Questions and Discussion
12:30 PM	Lunch

REGIONAL IMPACTS OF BIOFUEL PRODUCTION AND USE IN THE UPPER MIDWEST

1:30 PM	The Economics of Expanding Biofuel Production in the Upper Midwest (Panel Discussion) Panel Moderator: Bruce Babcock, Center for Agricultural and Rural Development, Iowa State University What have we learned from experience with corn-based ethanol? What is required to make the industry viable going forward? What are likely impacts of expanding the production and deployment of advanced cellulosic biofuel technologies on state economies, employment, agricultural production, and prices for land and agricultural commodities? How will these impacts differ with various feedstocks? What are the likely impacts on competing users for land and biomass feedstocks (food, feed, fiber, and other bioenergy feedstocks)?
	David Swenson, Iowa State University Randall Fortenbery, University of Wisconsin Doug Tiffany, University of Minnesota
2:30 PM	Social and Community-Level Impacts of Biofuel Production in the Upper Midwest (Panel Discussion) Panel Moderator: Michael Bell, University of Wisconsin-Madison What social impacts have been observed and might be seen in the future? How can adverse social impacts be minimized as we move forward with a transition to advanced biofuels? Who benefits and who stands to lose in various production scenarios, including transition from corn-based ethanol to cellulosic ethanol?
	Carmen Bain, Iowa State University LeAnn Tigges, University of Wisconsin

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	Jim Kleinschmit, Institute for Agriculture and Trade Policy (IATP)
3:30 PM	The Environment and Health (Panel Discussion) Panel Moderator: Phil Robertson, GLBRC and Michigan State University What have been the environmental impacts of expanded corn ethanol production in the Upper Midwest, and what are the likely impacts of expanding production of both cellulosic biofuels and corn-based ethanol? What does this mean for environmental sustainability in this region, and what are appropriate metrics and indicators? Discussion to include land-use changes.
	Chris Kucharik, University of Wisconsin Donna Perla, U.S. Environmental Protection Agency Peter Nowak, University of Wisconsin
4:30 PM	Breakout Discussions: Lessons Learned and a Transition Forward Each breakout group of participants will be asked to answer the set of questions below based on their expertise and information presented during the workshop’s earlier sessions.
	Identify a comprehensive set of potential impacts associated with a transition to advanced biofuels: List potential environmental impacts (both positive and negative) List potential economic impacts (both positive and negative) List potential social/cultural impacts (both positive and negative) What are the potential strategies for mitigating potential negative consequences/negative impacts of a transition to advanced biofuels? What are the greatest uncertainties as we move forward with advanced biofuels (e.g., winning feedstocks)?
5:15 PM	Breakout Groups Report Back
5:30 PM	Adjourn
6:00-7:30 PM	Reception, Hosted by the Wisconsin Bioenergy Initiative, Nelson Institute for Environmental Studies, and the College of Agricultural and Life Sciences, Brocach Irish Pub, 7 W. Main Street, Second floor, Madison, WI

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Wednesday, June 24, 2009

LUSSIER FAMILY HERITAGE CENTER

9:00 AM	The Business of Biofuels: Perspectives from the Investment Community and Industry (Panel Discussion) Moderator, Pat Atkins, Pegasus Capital Advisors
	Ruth Scotti, BP Biofuels, North America Paul Batcheller, PrairieGold Venture Partners Bruce Babcock, Iowa State University
10: 00 AM	Questions and Discussion
10:30 AM	Break
10:45 AM	Research for Decision Makers (Panel Discussion) Moderator: Elisabeth Graffy, U.S. Geological Survey What are some examples of federal research relevant to sustainability in the Upper Midwest? Additional examples of relevant research related to sustainability and biofuels in the region?
	Jeffery Steiner, U.S. Department of Agriculture Alison Goss Eng, U.S. Department of Energy, Biomass Program Alisa Gallant U.S. Geological Survey Theresa Selfa, Kansas State University
11:45 AM	Questions and Discussion
12:00 PM	Lunch
1:00 PM	Tools to Inform Policy Choices (Panel Discussion) Moderator: Jason Hill, University of Minnesota What tools are available to inform policy choices? What are the strengths and weaknesses of existing tools?
	Marilyn Buford, U.S. Forest Service Alan Hecht, U.S. Environmental Protection Agency Greg Nemet, University of Wisconsin Nathanael Greene, NRDC
2:00 PM	Breakout Session: State Policy Objectives and Research Needs: Going Forward Each breakout group of participants will be asked to answer the set of questions below based on their expertise and information presented during the workshop’s earlier sessions.
	Is there a need for new state/federal policies? What is the most pressing type of additional research needed by state decision makers?

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	Are there examples of policy inconsistencies that create inefficiencies and hinder the adoption of more sustainable production techniques and use of biofuels? How can scientific research be better used to inform the adoption of sustainable production practices during the transition to advanced biofuels?
3:00 PM	Breakout Groups Report Back
3:30 PM	Break
3:45 PM	Breakout Session: Policy Evaluation of Tradeoffs, Benefits, and Challenges: Going Forward Each breakout group of participants will be asked to answer the set of questions below based on their expertise and information presented during the workshop’s earlier sessions.
	What are greatest risks and vulnerabilities associated with expanded production and use? What will be necessary (beyond technology development) to commercialize production and use of advanced biofuels? What are greatest challenges (e.g., getting farmers to plant new crops, reducing risks to investors)?
4:45 PM	Breakout Groups Report Back
5:15 PM	Wrap Up: Summary of Workshop Discussions Moderator: Gary Radloff, Wisconsin State Department of Agriculture
5:30 PM	Adjourn