More than 20 projects, totaling $12.4 million, range from fisheries improvements to food security initiatives and are geared toward expanding the strategys goals and reach. Overall outcomes anticipated include stronger relationships with Tribal Nations, Alaska Native corporations, and municipal governments; inclusive, diverse engagements that represent the people, communities, and cultures of Southeast Alaska; an understanding of administrative barriers that continue to impact funding distribution and may include changes to policies, laws, and regulations; and be able to use input gained from engagements to determine short- and long-term investments for the region. CRS Report R40529, Biomass: Comparison of Definitions in Legislation, by Kelsi S. Bracmort and [author name scrubbed]. This cooperative agreement is truly an innovative approach taken by the USDA, said Richard Chalyee esh Peterson, President of Tlingit & Haida. Energy consumption in Southeast Asia nearly doubled between 1995 and 2015, growing at an average pace of 3.4% annually. Despite being "green" resources, renewable energy installations are not without aesthetic or environmental challenges of their own. The Integrated Resource Plan (IRP) process, when done well, is the best tool the electricity sector has for comparing the utilitys overall system costs across different portfolio options. It is concerned that competition for biomass resources from new power generation facilities and from transportation fuel uses could drive up prices to the economic detriment of forest product companies. Spruce Roots mission is to drive a regenerative economy across Southeast Alaska so communities can forge futures grounded in this uniquely Indigenous place, said Alana Peterson, Executive Director for Spruce Root. It gives an overview of the ORE status of the region in terms of its potential and existing policies that support the utilization of ORE as an alternative source of energy. This auction will not only offset polluting emissions, but also improve fair and transparent power project procurement and promote energy security and independence for Laos. 32+T9LPs))bRBbZ3H9%D1"za;V+*vJ) |FU8pr!DMf'!IHR Much of the Southeast region's biomass electricity capacity comes from existing forest products cogeneration facilities which would not qualify for tradable RECs under the RPS proposal floated by Senator Bingaman.54 The American Forest & Paper Association (AF&PA) is concerned that if this option is followed, a financial advantage could be given to new biomass energy generators at the expense of its member companies because of the added value of tradable RECs.55 Forest products companies are the primary users of biomass for manufacturing purposes. Because China's solar and wind energy resources are rich in northwest region, and the electricity load center is concentrated in the southeast region, the imbalance between the resource and demand intensifies the contradiction of renewable energy generation and grid operation. New report argues that even the Southeast can get a significant amount of electricity from renewable resources. When examined from a regional perspective, a number of questions have been raised as to the potential impacts on the supply and demand of biomass resources under a renewable energy standard. Methane is the primary component of natural gas which is used in cooking, heating, chemicals production, and electric power generation. Biomass has been characterized by advocates for an RES in the Southeast (i.e., Alabama, Georgia, Florida, Mississippi, North Carolina, South Carolina, Tennessee, and Virginia) as the regions main renewable resource which could be used to meet a standard. %PDF-1.6 % The Southeast Asian renewable energy market is changing rapidly. See http://energycommerce.house.gov/Press_111/20090226/testimony_gruenspecht.pdf. Located in a tropical climate and within the Ring of Fire, this region has great potential for a transition toward renewable energy utilization. Crops grown specifically for energy production are sometimes called "bioenergy crops" or "biomass crops." 796 (17)(E)]. Podcast Texas Power Podcast Search Solar Energy Commercial and Industrial Community Solar Distributed Energy Resources Microgrids The inorganic chemicals are recovered in a "recovery boiler" and reconstituted for reuse, while the organic lignin is burned, generating heat for steam production. Feed-in Tariffs are incentive structures for generating renewable electricity usually at above-market rates for a set number of years, reducing the payback period and adding certainty to the return on the investment. USDA will leverage its resources to support these efforts including programs to strengthen small businesses, broadband, renewable energy production, local foods and agriculture production, water and sewer infrastructure, healthcare, housing, outdoor tourism, silviculture support and others as appropriate. Targets for biofuels production from a Renewable Fuels Standard may mean that increased amounts of biomass would be dedicated to meet the needs of that program, if the trend away from corn-based ethanol persists and gasoline demand increases. Diversity of biomass resources seems likely to be key to the economic production of biomass-fired power generation. The utility segment is by far the . Click on a state or scroll down to access relevant conservation resources and state-specific climate change information. The Southeast has enough renewable resources to meet the 25 percent renewable-power mandate proposed by draft House energy and climate legislation, according to a new assessment [pdf] by environmental groups. The resultant gas is then used to provide heat for electric power generation. This team is locally based and will continue to consult with Tribal Nations and Alaska Native corporations and to engage with partners and municipal governments to continue to identify priorities and practical opportunities for investments of financial and technical assistance. Addresses critical community capacity needs and/or increases capacity. The report was released today as lawmakers negotiate over whether to scale back the renewable electricity standard in the bill sponsored by Energy and Commerce Chairman Henry Waxman (D-Calif.) and Rep. Ed Markey (D-Mass.). Introduced by Senators Udall and Udall on February 12, 2009. The Southeast already has a strong base of companies that can make and assemble the key components of wind turbines and other renewable energy equipment. The USDA intra-agency team continues to engage with Tribal Nations, Alaska Native corporations, municipal governments, local partners and communities, and the public to support economic development planning and implementation efforts. ) or https:// means you've safely For additional information, see the discussion of the investment tax credit and the production tax credit in the federal incentives section of the Database of State Incentives for Renewable Energy website at http://www.dsireusa.org/. Public Utility Regulatory Policies Act of 1978 at 16 U.S.C. F^"jDq2)r3#%_uM5wnZf;A6i{mag2CHs.]tv;e|>un .naf`n_^q $X,J,nE}|2|9?-__6/I:U Our long-term strategy will include establishing an interagency lead for the Sustainability Strategy, establishing a team charter for the Alaska-based OneUSDA team, and empowering shared leadership within the region by aligning programs with locally developed strategies such as the Blueprint for Southeast Alaska, the Visitor Products Cluster Working Group, the 2025 Economic Development Plan, and the All Landowners Working Group, among others. Wind turbines have been called ugly and noisy, and the cooling needs of solar thermal facilities in desert locations may require the use of scarce water resources. Biomass Resources: The Southeastern United States and the Renewable Electricity Standard Debate, Renewable Energy Resources in the Southeast, Forest-Based Resources: Wood Wastes and Black Liquor, Other Potential Sources of Biomass Energy, Landfill Gas and Municipal Solid Waste [Waste-to-Energy], Potential Biomass Use in the Southeast for RES Requirements, Summary of Barriers and Challenges to Greater Use of Biomass, Technological Challenges and Opportunities, http://www.eia.doe.gov/glossary/glossary_r.htm, http://www.eia.doe.gov/cneaf/alternate/page/renew_energy_consump/table1.html, http://www.eia.doe.gov/glossary/glossary_b.htm, http://americanhistory.si.edu/powering/past/history4.htm, http://www.eia.doe.gov/glossary/glossary_c.htm, http://www.ferc.gov/market-oversight/mkt-electric/overview/elec-ovr-rps.pdf, http://www.guardian.co.uk/business/2007/jul/23/germany.greenbusiness, http://www.ferc.gov/market-oversight/mkt-electric/overview/2009/03-2009-elec-ovr-archive.pdf#xml=http://search.atomz.com/search/pdfhelper.tk?sp_o=4,100000,0, http://www.dsireusa.org/glossary/glossary.cfm?CurrentPageID=8&EE=1&RE=1#con, http://tonto.eia.doe.gov/energy_in_brief/electricity.cfm, http://www.saferalliance.net/projects/bioenergy_roadmap.pdf, http://bioenergy.ornl.gov/pdfs/ornltm-2002199.pdf, http://www.fao.org/docrep/w7407e/W7407e05.htm, http://bioenergy.ornl.gov/faqs/index.html#overview4, http://www1.eere.energy.gov/femp/pdfs/fta_biomass_cofiring.pdf, ftp://ftp.fao.org/docrep/fao/010/a0701e/a0701e03.pdf, http://www.eia.doe.gov/cneaf/solar.renewables/page/landfillgas/landfillgas.html, http://wasteage.com/news/waste_epa_report_applauds/, http://www.eia.doe.gov/glossary/glossary_g.htm, http://www.recoveredenergy.com/d_plasma.html, http://www.technologyreview.com/Energy/21029/?a=f, http://www1.eere.energy.gov/ba/pba/pdfs/bio_overview.pdf, http://thehill.com/business--lobby/southern-co.-takes-aim-at-renewable-energy-bill-2007-05-08.html, http://www.prnewswire.com/cgi-bin/stories.pl?ACCT=104&STORY=/www/story/08-22-2008/0004871944&EDATE=, http://www.rechargenews.com/energy/biofuels/article171226.ece, http://www.pprc.info/html/millclosures.htm, http://www.theglobeandmail.com/servlet/story/RTGAM.20090325.wforestry0325/BNStory/National/, http://www.afandpa.org/Template.cfm?Section=Press_Releases1&template=/PressRelease/PressReleaseDisplay.cfm&PressReleaseID=936&PressReleaseCategoryID=10&ShowArchives=0, http://www.cepi.org/content/default.asp?pageid=10, http://www.epa.gov/oms/renewablefuels/420f07062.htm, http://www.harvestcleanenergy.org/enews/enews_0505/enews_0505_Cellulosic_Ethanol.htm, http://wood.tennessee.edu/NR/rdonlyres/70B5D4FC-FAAB-4DF3-A291-45E39CA5C99A/1310/EconomicAvailabilityofWoodyBiomass.pdf, http://www.esri.com/library/fliers/pdfs/measuringbiofuel.pdf, http://www.biomassmagazine.com/article.jsp?article_id=1975, http://energycommerce.house.gov/Press_111/20090226/testimony_gruenspecht.pdf. Southeast Asia used construction equipment market is expected to reach a value of $1,470 billion in 2029 from $1,012 million in 2022, growing at a CAGR of approximately 5.48% The Earthmoving. Without additional details, SEEM fails to address many of the efficiencies of full RTO integration modeled in this study like reserve sharing, transmission optimization, regional economic dispatch, independent system operation and market monitoring, and market access for independent power producers. Recently, Duke and Southern confirmed they are considering a centralized, region-wide, intra-hour energy exchange called the Southeast Energy Exchange Market (SEEM). Southeast Asian countries stand at a crossroads concerning their shared energy future and heavily rely on fossil fuels for transport and electricity. Southeast Asia (SEA) region has huge solar potential as it is located near the equator. Even amidst the COVID-19 global pandemic, we have achieved our goals through our four activity areas of improving power sector planning, fostering supportive policy frameworks, mobilizing finance and investment, and promoting enhanced regional collaboration.. The analysis does not account for ripple effects of reduced electricity rates on consumer and business spending or the increased attractiveness of Southeastern states to the growing number of companies with 100% clean energy goals. Renewable energy is seen as a way to reduce fossil fuel use and, with growing awareness of the potential impacts of climate change, the role of renewable energy in reducing CO2 emissions from energy production has garnered increasing public support. This included virtual Open Houses, an online feedback tool, an information-filled website, and a dedicated email address for submitting input, letters, and/or existing plans or specific investment proposals. By 2025, the desired regional target is securing 23 percent of primary energy from renewable sources. See http://methanetomarkets.org/ag/index.htm. The effects of these new federal requirements added to existing uses on the price of woody biomass is uncertain, but increased demand without a commensurate increase in supply (or development of alternative supplies) usually leads to higher prices for a finite resource. In these states, most renewable energy projects are utility-owned. "Malaysia is endowed with vast renewable energy resources such as biomass and solar. Of these plants included in the analysis, both local and regional solar resources are less expensive than all of the coal plants analyzed. Diversity in biomass supplies will also be key if the resource is to meet competing demands. CRS Report RL34059, The Carbon Cycle: Implications for Climate Change and Congress, by [author name scrubbed]. http://www.guardian.co.uk/business/2007/jul/23/germany.greenbusiness. The projects announced today have been allocated in the categories below: Tribal and Indigenous Interests total commitment of $12.5 million, which includes about $2.3 million for the six projects announced today. Mike Ewall, Primer on Landfill Gas as "Green" Energy, Energy Justice Network, July 29, 1999, http://www.energyjustice.net/lfg/. While the rate of underperformance was least severe in the Southeast (reported at 17% below the U.S. average), that region is the most prone to anomalies driven by physical damage (such as cracking, delamination, or . The Southeast is one of the country's fastest growing economic sectors and one of the only regions without a competitive wholesale electricity market. The results for the Southeast make it abundantly clear that solar and storage is a cost-effective and resilient replacement for retiring coal plants across the region. In the southeast region especially, biomass may be the most readily available opportunity for meeting RES goals, but compliance may still be a challenge. But the World Resources Institute paper argues the target is more than achievable, finding that renewable energy could supply as much as 30 percent of the region's power needs within 15 years. The alkaline spent liquor from the digesters in the production of sulfate or soda pulp during the manufacture of paper. The initial $25 million investment will be divided into four broad categories: USDAs initial commitment of $25 million to support investment efforts is a positive, near-term commitment in the regions long-term potential to support a diverse economy, conserve natural resources, and improve community resiliency. We are grateful for USDAs investment, and we also know more must be done. A principal argument made by supporters of an RES is that it would provide benefits to the environmental goals. After 2012, renewable fuel use is required to grow in volume as gasoline demand grows. Policymakers can unleash the power of competition. This buildout of wind, solar, and storage generates 285,000 new jobs in the Southeast through 2040 compared to business-as-usual good jobs in one of the countrys fastest growing economic sectors, offering higher than average wages. U.S. Department of Energy's Office of Energy Efficiency and Renewable Energy , Overview of Biomass Technologies, http://www1.eere.energy.gov/ba/pba/pdfs/bio_overview.pdf. The locations selected were bounded by a 280-mile radius to allow for a four-hour maximum one-way haul, and trucks offloading biomass every 15 minutes. Vietnam has a high potential for renewable energy, including hydro, solar, wind, biomass, and waste. An official website of the Thestrategy to be undertaken on the Tongass National Forest and in Southeast Alaska includes four primary components: As a part of the strategy, the Secretary of Agriculture made an initial commitment of $25 million to the region. Congress has been debating establishment of a Renewable Electricity Standard (RES) to encourage increased use of all forms of renewable energy including generating electricity from biomass sources (H.R. RPS requirements oblige electric utilities to provide electricity from renewable energy sources in increasing amounts over a specified period of years. Out of the seven states included in the model, only North Carolina has a meaningful renewable portfolio standard. Gasification technology holds promise for increased efficiency and usefulness of biomass combustion and waste-to-energy technologies. Today, biomass is the largest source of renewable energy in the United States. Discussions also focused on identifying administrative barriers to federal funding. The Production Tax Credit13 and the Investment Tax Credit14 have been used by the federal government to support renewable energy.15 Recent consideration has also been given to implementing a federal "Feed-in Tariff" (FIT) law. The total delivered cost of woody biomass can be calculated as the sum of the costs of procurement (i.e., the amount paid to gain ownership of a biomass resource), collection or harvest costs, and transportation costs. Drill Baby Drill 2.0: The EPA Needs To Start Permitting Wells For Carbon Dioxide Sequestration, Asias Hunger For Energy Will Not Save Russias Economy, all Southeast coal plants cost more to run, proposed the voluntary Southeast Energy Exchange Market (SEEM), New research from Energy Innovation and Vibrant Clean Energy, establishing a competitive wholesale electricity market, investigate the benefits of establishing organized markets, Competitive wholesale electricity markets, These markets are far from perfect in practice, ambitious long-term climate announcements, heavily reliant on expensive-to-run coal plants, doubling down on risky new gas infrastructure investments, a competitive regional Southeast market through 2040, one of the countrys fastest growing economic sectors, offering higher than average wages, the growing number of companies with 100% clean energy goals, may suffer more economic loss from COVID-19 than any other area of the country, 1.5 times as much PM 2.5 compared to white Americans, one of the most damaging pollutants for human health, up to $60 billion each year in 2050 and up to $99 billion in 2090 in costs, only North Carolina has a meaningful renewable portfolio standard. In the short time since the Secretarys announcement, over 270 investment proposals were received totaling more than $276 million. An online data explorer allows users to compare scenarios and understand state-level impacts: By contrast, current utility plans add virtually no wind or storage, only 21 GW of additional solar by 2040, maintain existing coal, and drastically expand gas generation. The development of renewable energy projects in the region is an expensive bill for most Southeast Asian countries to foot. The OneUSDA team employed a four-step assessment process to inform its recommendation for the initial investment of $25 million. They have also been critical to integrating variable renewable energy wind and solar and capitalizing on resource diversity over larger geographical areas. For more information on Tradable Credits, see CRS Report RL34116, Renewable Energy Portfolio Standard (RPS): Background and Debate Over a National Requirement, by [author name scrubbed]. Over the past decade, the most rapid growth came from Brunei Darussalam, Cambodia and Viet Nam. Approximately 53% of all domestic renewable energy comes from biomass sources3 represented by biofuels, landfill gas, biogenic4 municipal solid waste, wood and wood-derived fuels, and other biomass such as switchgrass. In Southeast Asia, the Philippines is one of the countries most dependent on fossil fuels,. Considering fuel cost inputs in this range and continuation of the Production Tax Credit58 and RECs producing power valued around $0.08 per kilowatt-hour, biomass power plants could be built in the 25 megawatt size range and produce power economically, according to the Biomass Power Association.59. Sustainable management of forest resources is likely to be both a basic consideration and a possible constraint. Increased battery storage and system flexibility also reduces the need for seldom-used gas peaking resources, which are mostly eliminated in the RTO by 2040. Countries in Southeast Asia have abundant renewable energy resource potential. Figure 1 shows various types of biomass resources in the United States by annual tonnage per square kilometer available in individual counties. Within Asia, especially India and China lead the world renewable energy generation undergoing a period of energy transition and economic transformation. The results are clear: continued reliance on coal is expensive, and each of these plants should be evaluated for economic retirement through a comprehensive resource and transmission planning process. 45, According to SACE's analysis, biomass is potentially seen as meeting 60% of a near-term RES goal of 15% of all generation in the Southeast (by the year 2015). Biomass boiler greenhouse. The commitment identifies short investments that reflect diverse investment opportunities and needs in the Southeast Region. USDA is focused on maximizing its collective resources to provide the highest level of support and service to Southeast Alaska. We are a nonpartisan climate policy think tank helping policymakers make informed energy policy choices and accelerate clean energy by supporting the policies that most effectively reduce greenhouse gas emissions. Kung Ven has been hired as WSP USA's energy business line leader for the Southeast region, according to a company press release. A decision in the Georgia Power rate case last week failed to provide age-appropriate policy and will ensure Georgia remains a bottom-10 state for rooftop solar. Justine Hunter, Forestry decline threatens B.C. Forest Biomass and its Role in a National Renewable Electricity Standard. A nationwide renewable electricity standard is a major goal for Democratic leaders and environmentalists. With biomass representing the most widely used (and ostensibly the least expensive) renewable energy resource in the United States, its potential use in meeting RES requirements is key to the success of any RES that may be enacted. Competitive wholesale electricity markets, or Regional Transmission Operators (RTOs) and Independent System Operators (ISOs), are public-benefit corporations serving 70% of U.S. electricity customers that arose from electricity restructuring during the late 1990s-early 2000s to cut costs and encourage innovation. We look to be part of an inclusive, responsive approach that complements existing efforts toward practical, common-sense solutions. Let's dive in to see what this Coal Cost Crossover analysis can tell us about coal plants in the Southeast. (Photo by Paul Harris/Getty Images). 26 USC 45. endstream endobj 211 0 obj <>stream Thus far, two bills have been introduced in the 111th Congress that would amend PURPA. These proposals reflect the broad and deep need for economic stimulus in Southeast Alaska. To learn more, visit the Southeast Alaska Sustainability Strategys webpage. See http://www.house.gov/jct/x-39-08.pdf. Knowledge awaits. Energies. Inorganic wastes are reduced to low volume, inert solids.41 The technology is being used commercially in several installations around the world, with the first U.S. facility scheduled to be operational in 2011.42, A potential national renewable electricity standard would rely on biomass as one of the nation's most widely available resources that could be used to meet requirements.43 With many states already moving forward on advancing renewable energy goals, the acceptability of an RES may come down to regional views on the availability and suitability of renewable energy resources for meeting RES requirements. Rn?Q&i( =ET/v,yb9j1xZiKM_at$qJ{Dgny? Energy demand also grew an average of 6% per year, one of the fastest growth rates in the world. 80% of contracts to add new renewables to the system by large energy buyers have been in organized competitive wholesale markets, said Bryn Baker, Director of Policy Innovation at the Renewable Energy Buyers Alliance. See http://www.epa.gov/oms/renewablefuels/420f07062.htm. Community Capacity total commitment of $3.125 million, which includes about $1.7 million for five projects announced today. It also eliminates all coal generation by 2040. Listening to the importance of the sustainability strategy to local communities, learning about southeast Alaska culture, and meeting Tribal members and partners is an honor for me, said Under Secretary for Natural Resources and Environment Dr. Homer Wilkes. Identifying short- and long-term opportunities for investments that reflect the diverse opportunities and needs in the region. Collaborated with Thailands Office of the Energy Regulatory Commission to develop regulations and technical standards to ensure the safety and performance of battery energy storage systems. Research and development initiatives may well increase the efficiency of biomass power generation, making it possible to increase power output from less biomass feedstock. Although biomass-fueled power plants are not immune to such challenges, they are capable of offering base-load capacity, and a viable clean energy alternative for utilities in the Southeast should climate change considerations officially become part of the rationale for a Renewable Electricity Standard. hWn0P !u{QE< lJeS=gl^ xngr*X"k"2:BFeJ9*ePUQ_g8[TMvvzb|yYdSlX6-Q7 4!IG97k%9 &Xh%~0N$Y{'(/>0F{9bAmi #Q3zC`#] Q;`d\1GHF'uN"VRd"eqG -Gb7m,Xd/>a)~yf}xw>y `6{R1gL+S!A!{c[=yH . On April 2, ChargdAffairesat the U.S. Embassy Michael Heath gave remarks at theRenewable Energy Symposium and Electric Vehicle Challenge, the capstone of Clean Power Asia, a USAID funded regional program. Aided by a well-established, supportive portfolio of policies in nearly every Northeastern state, the region ranks second in the nation for both solar power . Municipal solid waste contains significant portions of organic materials that produce a variety of gaseous products when dumped, compacted, and covered in landfills. USDA Forest Service photo. A federal RES mandate and consistent, long-term financial incentives are also seen by supporters as necessary to increase renewable electricity generation to attain the goals of cleaner energy and greater energy security. United States. The region is home to 44% of the nation's total energy from woody biomass and a significant portion of other biomass types.25 Not all biomass is recognized as "eligible" to meet federal RES requirements due to differences in federal legislation and tax provisions defining biomass. Podcasts Factor This! Methane released from manure management systems can be captured and used as clean energy to produce electricity. Because every Southeastern coal-fired power plant is unable to compete in an open market scenario, PM 2.5 pollution - one of the most damaging pollutants for human health - drops to near zero by 2040 along with other harmful pollutants such as nitrogen oxides and sulphur oxides. "The Economic Availability of Biomass in the Southeastern United States," by T. Young, D. Ostermeier, J. Thomas, R. Brooks. (Photo by Logan Cyrus for The Washington Post via Getty Images). Pulp & Paperworkers Resource Council, Mill Closures Chart, 2007, http://www.pprc.info/html/millclosures.htm. Natural Resources total commitment of $6.25 million, which includes about $3 million for nine projects announced today. From 2016 to 2021, USAIDs $16.3 million Clean Power Asia program also: For the past five years, USAID Clean Power Asia has been working with Lower Mekong countries and other Southeast Asian nations to encourage power sector investments in environmentally friendly, clean energy sources, focusing on incorporating renewable energy into planning, promoting smart incentives, building an enabling environment for renewable energy policies, and mobilizing finance. However, biomass would have to be utilized from a variety of sources, with forestry residues and stumps within a 45-minute haul range, and urban wood residues within a 135-minute haul.64, In comparison, Georgia Power's biomass conversion at the former Mitchell coal plant is expected to draw upon waste wood from a 100-mile radius around the facility. The issue of whether there is enough biomass to meet both an RES and RFS is beyond the scope of this report. For more information, please visit www.usaidcleanpowerasia.org. DOE/EIA has stated that biomass has the potential to be a large part of the national solution toward meeting a prospective RES.68 This is especially true for the southeastern region, at least in the initial years of compliance.69 The definition for biomass could be chosen to expand the resource beyond the supply of woody materials to include livestock wastes, municipal solid wastes, and/or other non-traditional resources. deputy lieutenant bedfordshire, johnny gill my, my, my video model,