After the municipal solid waste is sorted and separated, much of the remaining material is biogenic and can be prepared for burning in a steam boiler. have proposed the voluntary Southeast Energy Exchange Market (SEEM). Together, this significant duplication and overbuild of infrastructure costs customers billions. A market was created for firms outside of the electric utility industry with a preference or opportunity for producing energy from alternative fuels, especially for qualifying small power facilities that could use biomass, waste, or other renewable resources (including wind, solar energy, and water).6 Investments and advances in combustion turbine technology preceded the growth of cogeneration.7 Nowadays, combined heat and power turbine-generator sets are a mainstay of several industries and industrial applications. Environmental and Energy Study Institute, Biomass Cofiring: A Transition to a Low-Carbon Future, March 2009, http://www.eesi.org/030409_cofiring. For example, all-source procurement, which requires monopoly utilities to conduct a competitive procurement process with robust bid evaluation, can add clean electricity and reduce customer costs. The harvest of food and other crops often leaves behind a mass of stover (i.e., stalks, leaves and other plant remnants). Pulp & Paperworkers Resource Council, Mill Closures Chart, 2007, http://www.pprc.info/html/millclosures.htm. 26 These definitions have varied over time with changes in the law and regulations, reflecting policy goals and technological change. The next section discusses current and future possible sources of biomass and technologies for renewable energy. After 2012, renewable fuel use is required to grow in volume as gasoline demand grows. This has fuelled economic growth and permitted higher living standards. These proposals reflect the broad and deep need for economic stimulus in Southeast Alaska. Click on a state or scroll down to access relevant conservation resources and state-specific climate change information. 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 region's main renewable resource which could be used to meet a standard. New research from Energy Innovation and Vibrant Clean Energy shows establishing a competitive wholesale electricity market across seven Southeastern states could save $384 billion and create more than 400,000 clean energy jobs, jump-starting an economy slowed by COVID-19 and dramatically reducing harmful air pollution. Nationwide, Black Americans are exposed to 1.5 times as much PM 2.5 compared to white Americans. Methane is the primary component of natural gas which is used in cooking, heating, chemicals production, and electric power generation. The Golden Age For Liquefied Natural Gas (LNG). Other technologies, such as "open-loop" biomass, incremental hydropower, small irrigation systems, landfill gas, and municipal solid waste (MSW), receive a lesser value tax credit. 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. (Photo by Paul Harris/Getty Images), WECs Angela Wilkinson: A Voice Of Reason In The Energy And Climate Discussion. Concerns over the potential impacts of a federal RES seem to revolve largely around the issue of whether, nationwide, sufficient renewable energy resources exist and are economically viable. 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. November 30 - December 2, 2022. . Denver , CO , United States. Demand for woody biomass could also be affected by requirements for biofuels production under the Renewable Fuel Standard60 specified by Congress in the Energy Policy Act of 2005, especially as cellulosic methods for ethanol production are improved. (Photo by Paul Harris/Getty Images). "Our research suggests we certainly have sufficient resources." But nowadays, possibilities for use include collection of a portion of this material for burning in a biomass boiler, producing steam for electricity, or processing into biofuels (see below) such as cellulosic ethanol, as technologies and new processes are developed. Capitol Hill Publishing Corp, Southern Co. takes aim at renewable-energy bill, May 8, 2007, http://thehill.com/business--lobby/southern-co.-takes-aim-at-renewable-energy-bill-2007-05-08.html. March 2022 SASS meeting in Juneau, Alaska. The development of solar and wind resources in the power sector was relatively slow as renewables were not cost-competitive over thermal power plants. Goals for biofuels production to meet a Renewable Fuels Standard (RFS) may also mean that increased amounts of biomass would be dedicated to that use. In 2015, Indonesia, Malaysia, Thailand, and Viet Nam . New resources (such as dedicated biocrops) or other biomass sources (such as municipal solid waste) may need to be used if biomass from forest residues and forest product industry wastes do not prove sufficient to meet RES goals. Invest Trillions Today to Keep Climate Change at Bay: IEA, Impacts of Global Biofuel Boom Remain Murky, The Other Peak Oil: Demand from Developed World Falling. "Hog fuel" is a mixture of wood and bark, usually reduced to 50-75 millimeter-size chips and produced by a "wood hog" (i.e., grinder), from which it derives its name. Southeast Asian countries stand at a crossroads concerning their shared energy future and heavily rely on fossil fuels for transport and electricity. Plasma-arc gasification is an incineration technology which uses an oxygen-starved environment to reduce the organic components in municipal solid waste (or other biomass) into its constituent elements. The last in a four-part series, this portion focuses on the renewable energy sector in the 14 Southeastern states (Alabama, Arkansas, Florida, Georgia, Kentucky, Louisiana, Mississippi, North Carolina, Oklahoma, South . Today, biomass is the largest source of renewable energy in the United States. The team used a two-pronged approach to gather public input. The definition of which types of biomass are eligible under an RES would determine which resources, technologies and processes will be available to meet a possible federal RES mandate. When burned, fossil fuels emit pollutants such as sulfur dioxide and nitrogen oxides which are subject to environmental controls to limit their release to the air. The site is secure. U.S. Energy Project in Southeast Asia Increased Renewable Energy Investments by $7 Billion, USAID and FHI 360 join PMAC to enhance data integration in decision-making at the climate-health nexus, United States Launches SERVIR-Southeast Asia, a USAID-NASA Initiative to Fight Climate Change, USAID Smart Infrastructure for the Mekong Program Restores Fish Passage Across the Mekong, USAID, DNP, and WildAid Launch Media Campaign to End Demand for Ivory Products. The use of cellulosic fiber from trees to make paper is a primary use of wood, rivaling other forest product uses such as lumber for buildings and furniture products. USDA Forest Service photo. EIA, Monthly Energy Review, September 2008. 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. "Malaysia is endowed with vast renewable energy resources such as biomass and solar. 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. Analysts from energy think tank Energy Innovation recently published a report showing that it is now more expensive to continue to run most coal plants than to replace them with renewable energy. The report, which is based on a review of existing literature regarding renewable resources in the Southeast, includes the following renewable energy resources: wind, solar, hydro, geothermal, biomass, and tidal. For more on Fischer-Tropsch technologies, see CRS Report RL34133, Fischer-Tropsch Fuels from Coal, Natural Gas, and Biomass: Background and Policy, by [author name scrubbed] and [author name scrubbed]. 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. Website by, SACE | Southern Alliance for Clean Energy, Analysis finds Renewables cheaper than all Southeast coal plants. Notably, in the Southeast where wind resources are often dismissed, local wind was found to be less expensive than 30% of all Southeast coal plants and regional wind was found to be less expensive than 84% of all Southeast coal plants. Having a financially viable forest products sector producing wood wastes is important to the biomass power industry. LockA locked padlock http://www.eia.doe.gov/glossary/glossary_c.htm. Opinions expressed by Forbes Contributors are their own. 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. All rights reserved. This important step towards more battery deployments will increase the penetration of renewable energy, reduce pollution from fossil fuels, and help develop an electric vehicle infrastructure, supporting Thailands transition towards a carbon-neutral country. In these states, most renewable energy projects are utility-owned. Waste-to-energy facilities in operation today are typically able to meet clean air standards and requirements.38. An official website of the The region is committed to renewable energy and integrating sustainable practices into legacy industries. 4`SZLp4M6@iGvr&8Mj e{y/aMj:7&N~}Oqz3IsJP mDVa 2by@~pM~2G^ BghouDkm0B]m7>/S=x?? ]>x#-Gx[;O^UK[uNQjh%j$[H?OWl;n OoGn;4z^.nnL,Wis8iq ^_n70>{ 6c_,77nN 0 H`1 VCEs WIS:dom model also incorporates electricity distribution infrastructure savings from deploying distributed storage and solar resources. This cooperative agreement is truly an innovative approach taken by the USDA, said Richard Chalyee esh Peterson, President of Tlingit & Haida. Southeast Asia used construction equipment market is expected to reach a value of $1,470 billion in 2029 from $1,012 million in 2022, growing at a CAGR of approximately 5.48% The Earthmoving. 890, would return amounts collected from penalties for noncompliance or alternative compliance payments to retail electricity suppliers that have submitted renewable energy credits20 (REC) for compliance. One portfolio would be to continue to operate these coal plants, and another would be to phase them out while replacement generation and capacity from solar, wind, and storage come online. National Renewable Energy Laboratory, Renewable Resource Data Center, http://www.nrel.gov/rredc/. [F|39$~0 #4 For Tlingit & Haida, the agreements are an example of USDAs renewed commitment to its Federal Trust responsibilities and what can be done when partners work together on common goals of sustainable, community-led economic development in Southeast Alaska. See http://energycommerce.house.gov/Press_111/20090226/testimony_gruenspecht.pdf. See http://wood.tennessee.edu/NR/rdonlyres/70B5D4FC-FAAB-4DF3-A291-45E39CA5C99A/1310/EconomicAvailabilityofWoodyBiomass.pdf. Today, biomass is the largest source of renewable energy in the United States. Generation sources within seven states in the Southeast RTO model. Interact with the entire Southeast renewable energy community and hear from key players Effective Networking Connect with speakers and attendees in the Networking Lounge or via secured, private messages Schedule 1-on-1 meetings or group calls using built-in video chat features on our virtual platform FEATURED SPEAKERS Kathryn Arbeit United States government. Alaska Regional Office Ibid. 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. Waxman had offered a lower renewable target of 17.5 percent, according to Rep. Gene Green (D-Texas), a member of the committee. The investment tax credit is an incentive for domestic investment in renewable energy plant and equipment. USAID Clean Power Asia collaborated with diverse stakeholders, partners, and regional organizations to share lessons learned and best practices across Southeast Asia to accelerate the regional transition to a high performing, low carbon power sector. All renewable energy sources combined account for about 10% of the U.S. total energy production. Explore our digital archive back to 1845, including articles by more than 150 Nobel Prize winners. Daniel Cusick, "Southern utilities led effort to squash Senate RPS proposal," Earth News, June 26, 2007. USDA Forest Service photo. (Photo by Rolf [+] Schulten/ullstein bild via Getty Images). Many consider carbon dioxide emissions from biomass sources as practically neutral, because biomass sources take in carbon dioxide during their growing cycle and release it when burned.17 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 carbon emissions has garnered increasing public support. However, numerous studies have found that renewable energy development has a negative impact on the . These proposals reflect the broad and deep need for economic stimulus in Southeast Alaska. 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. 26 USC 45. Community Capacity total commitment of $3.125 million, which includes about $1.7 million for five projects announced today. Proposing to restore the 2001 Roadless Rule protections. As we celebrate USAIDs achievements in energy in Thailand and across the region, we also look to the future and partnerships that will continue to strengthen energy investments in the region, facilitating the transition to a clean energy future and enhanced regional energy security, said ChargdAffairesHeath. Wood wastes from saw mills is a primary source of energy used by the biopower industry in its power plants, but if sufficient numbers of these mills go out of business, then the economics of biopower operations could change.52 There is little doubt that logging operations leave behind considerable waste wood in the forests, but going into the forest specifically to collect wood wastes may not be cost effective for biopower companies.53. ( Incremental progress may be on the horizon. Transitioning away from dirty fossil fuels is not just a question of fair competition for clean energy power providers, it's a matter of justice for communities disproportionately burdened by pollution. In fact, 82% of the total coal capacity in the region could be replaced with solar and storage for the cost of continued operation of those coal plants, and with a significant decrease in risks associated with fuel costs, outages from extreme weather, and potential future environmental regulations. An official website of the United States government. 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. The provisions of such a lawincluding definition of eligible biomass resources, price incentives for renewable electricity, and tax treatmentwould all affect the economic viability of possible projects and could affect demand for biomass resources. Reprinted from Greenwire with permission from Environment & Energy Publishing, LLC. No, of course not. This exciting new partnership will allow us to bring even more conservation benefits to southeast communities that address food security and local agricultural production.. . 32+T9LPs))bRBbZ3H9%D1"za;V+*vJ) |FU8pr!DMf'!IHR Thus, owing to the above points, Vietnam is expected to dominate the renewable energy market in the region during the forecast period. 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. It calls for a range of policies, such as low-interest loans and strong state interconnection standards that enable new renewables to link to the grid. 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. In a brief published by Indonesian non-governmental organisation (NGO), the Habibie Centre, financial access was deemed the most important factor for developing renewable energy projects due to their capital-intensive nature. installed electrical wiring at a solar array he recently installed at a job site in East Charlotte. Infrastructure total commitment of $3.125 million, which includes about $1.5 million for five projects announced today. She has expertise in renewable energy, energy efficiency, coal retirements, energy market modeling, and, Copyright 2023 cleanenergy.org / Southern Alliance for Clean Energy. Southeastern Region Report - American Council on Renewable Energy Produced by biological processes of living organisms. Discussions also focused on identifying administrative barriers to federal funding. This blog post examines the land use implications of various energy technologies -- particularly solar. Historically, most electric power has come from base-load generation in large, central station plants using fossil fuels (principally coal) as the source of energy. The OneUSDA team employed a four-step assessment process to inform its recommendation for the initial investment of $25 million. In the short time since the Secretarys announcement, over 270 investment proposals were received totaling more than $276 million. Representation of a priority economic sector. Under the regional agreements, the entities are collaborating with USDA to promote economic diversification and workforce development projects for themselves and other smaller organizations in Southeast Alaska. This visit reinforces USDAs commitment to locally driven collaborative work towards shared outcomes in southeast Alaska communities. Methane is a more powerful greenhouse gas than carbon dioxide, being 21 times more potent at trapping heat in the atmosphere over a 100 year period. Approximately 53% of all renewable energy comes from biomass sources, represented by biofuels, landfill gas, municipal solid waste, wood and wood-derived fuels, and other biomass feedstocks. Our initial Economic Investment effort will commit up to $25 million in federal funding based on local priorities for short-term, project-based investments. The draft bill would require utilities above a certain size to supply 25 percent of their power from renewable sources like wind, solar and biomass energy by 2025, although efficiency measures could be used to meet a fifth of the target. Work continues with southeast Alaska partners on additional projects to meet the strategys initial $25 million commitment. While new jobs more than replace those lost in coal and gas, some communities will be disproportionately impacted by the transition. Below are lists of the states and territories in the Land Trust Alliance's Southeastern Region, which includes the Atlantic Islands and the Gulf Coast. Sustainable management of forest resources is a basic consideration. See http://www.eia.doe.gov/cneaf/solar.renewables/page/landfillgas/landfillgas.html. PO Box 1842Knoxville, TN 37901865.637.6055, Maggie Shober works to speed the clean energy transformation in the Southeast through analysis and advocacy. On July 15, 2021, the U.S. Department of Agriculture (USDA) announced the newSoutheast Alaska Sustainability Strategy to support a diverse economy, enhancecommunity resilience, and conserve natural resources in Southeast Alaska. 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 . AF&PA points to a study of the effects of a 20% RPS by their counterparts in Europe, which concluded that simple power generation from biomass (i.e., wood and recovered paper) should only be considered when recycling is no longer feasible to maximize economic and environmental benefits.56, In contrast, the Biomass Power Association says that its members cannot profitably compete with the pulp and paper industry for supplies of woody biomass at existing prices of $60 per bone dry ton (BDT), and must seek alternative supplies in the $40 per BDT range, or lower.57 Thus, other sources of biomass are targeted. petroleum ,limestone ,asphalt, bauxite , naltural gas , gold diamond thi are the nonrenewable resources found in the caribean What will lead to depletion of nonrenewable resources? A "Renewable Electricity Deployment Fund," proposed in H.R. Addresses historic and/or structural decisions that previously contributed to inequitable access to USDA programs. 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. Despite being "green" resources, renewable energy installations are not without aesthetic or environmental challenges of their own. Energy Information Administration, How is my electricity generated, delivered, and priced?, July 10, 2008, http://tonto.eia.doe.gov/energy_in_brief/electricity.cfm. renewable energy, also called alternative energy, usable energy derived from replenishable sources such as the Sun ( solar energy ), wind ( wind power ), rivers ( hydroelectric power ), hot springs ( geothermal energy ), tides ( tidal power ), and biomass ( biofuels ). http://www.fao.org/docrep/w7407e/W7407e05.htm. May 2008. http://www.eia.doe.gov/cneaf/alternate/page/renew_energy_consump/table1.html. The latter study used geographic information system (GIS) techniques to examine the theoretical effects of transportation infrastructure, distance, and biomass types on potential bioenergy projects in the 27 counties. Broken down by region, underperformance affected projects in the Pacific Northwest the most at 17% above the national average. (907) 586-8806, https://www.fs.usda.gov/detail/r10/landmanagement/resourcemanagement/?cid=FSEPRD950023, What is the OneUSDA Southeast Alaska Sustainability Strategy, On July 15, 2021, the U.S. Department of Agriculture (USDA). Coal-fired power plants are major sources of toxic air pollution, so phasing out uneconomic coal dramatically improves air quality. A lock () or https:// ensures that you are connecting to the official website and that any information you provide is encrypted and transmitted securely. Meanwhile, broad public engagement, in the form of a 30-day public outreach period, was held in mid-September through mid-October with several of platforms offered for additional engagement. "There have been at least three different proposals back and forth," Stupak said in a short interview yesterday. Monopoly utilities plan their electric grids independently from their neighbors and impose fees called wheeling charges to ship power across successive utility transmission systems. Planning for biomass resources that fails to consider competing uses, may have unintended economic, ecological and environmental consequences. Near-term potential for renewable energy resources: energy crops (22%); forest residues (18%); crop residues (11%); urban wood residues (6%); biogas (landfills2%; livestock manure1%). See http://methanetomarkets.org/ag/index.htm. Since the time of the first nomadic hunter-gatherer societies, wood has been collected for cooking fires and heating. The majority of that capacity is expected to come from new energy crops.46, Opponents of an RES say goals for new renewable energy generation are unfair and cannot be easily met in the timeframes under discussion. Growing at an average pace of more than 5% per annum, power demand in Southeast Asia is projected to keep rising over the next decade. Research and development initiatives may well increase the efficiency of biomass power generation, making it possible to increase power output from less biomass feedstock. to support a diverse economy, enhancecommunity resilience, and conserve natural resources in Southeast Alaska. Feb 27, 2023 - Mar 1, 2023. 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. The pulp and paper industry dominates the cogeneration sector today fueled largely by biomass from wood wastes. Forest Biomass and its Role in a National Renewable Electricity Standard. 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. Southeast Alaskas culture, people, and economy are interwoven with the Tongass National Forest. To learn more, visit the Southeast Alaska Sustainability Strategys webpage. Energy Innovation has released updated analysis comparing the cost of continuing to operate coal plants to replacing them with solar, wind, or batteries. Criticism has increased recently about the amount of land required for clean energy resources. 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/. 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. Home Explore Markets North America Southeast 1,069 TWh Energy Demand 292.2 GW Installed Capacity 11 % Renewable Share Southeast The Southeast region is assumed to be comprised of all or parts of Kentucky, Tennessee, the Carolinas, Louisiana, Mississippi, Alabama, Georgia, and Florida. This open-ended engagement ensures that investments were paired with a forward-looking approach to plan for longer-term action that are home-grown and responsive to local priorities, complement ongoing partnerships, and are inclusive of the values and peoples in the region. Virginia has a 12% RPS requirement by 2022. Sign up to receive clean energy updates in your inbox. See 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. Georgia Power estimates it will require 160 to 180 truckload deliveries per day to supply the 1 million tons of biomass needed for the 96 MW facility. Southeast Agriculture & Forestry Energy Alliance, Southern Bioenergy Roadmap, 2009, p. 5, http://www.saferalliance.net/projects/bioenergy_roadmap.pdf. It also eliminates all coal generation by 2040. Juneau, AK 99802-1628 Today, coal is the most widely used fuel for electric power generation in the United States. 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. It also includes a proposal to restore the 2001 Roadless Rule protections on the Tongass and to engage in meaningful consultations with Tribal Nations and Alaska Native corporations. Renewable Portfolio Standards. http://www.eia.doe.gov/glossary/glossary_g.htm. The efficiency of boilers at these levels of biomass input is not affected and resulting overall air emissions are reduced.31 In the future, much of the biomass co-fired in coal plants may come from biocrops. The latest on SEEM, FERC, and the impact on renewable energy The coalition of Southern utilities petitioning to form a new market exchange has responded to a second deficiency letter from FERC. Gasification technology holds promise for increased efficiency and usefulness of biomass combustion and waste-to-energy technologies. Biocrops are fast-growing (sometimes hybridized) species dedicated to producing energy (electricity or liquid fuels) from all or part of the resulting plant.30 These are mostly perennials such as switchgrass or mixed prairie perennials, or trees like willow or poplar, but any other plant material could be used for biocrops.
renewable resources in the southeast region