Agriculture Reference
In-Depth Information
17
Bioenergy:
Energy Sources and
Costs for Agriculture
Donald C. Erbach and Wallace W. Wilhelm
contents
Abstract ..................................................................................................................264
Introduction............................................................................................................264
The Problem: Fossil Energy................................................................................... 265
Energy Security ................................................................................................. 265
Environmental Impact ....................................................................................... 266
Economic Impact .............................................................................................. 267
The Solution: Renewable Energy........................................................................... 268
Renewable Bioenergy ............................................................................................ 268
Critical Questions for Renewable Bioenergy.................................................... 269
Bioenergy: Potential from Agriculture and Rural America ................................... 270
Rural Economic Benefits................................................................................... 273
Bioenergy: Concerns.............................................................................................. 273
Net Energy ........................................................................................................ 274
Fuel versus Food ............................................................................................... 274
Water ................................................................................................................. 275
Land Use Change .............................................................................................. 275
Greenhouse Gas Emissions ............................................................................... 276
Yields................................................................................................................. 276
Rural Economic Development .......................................................................... 276
Policy................................................................................................................. 277
Sustainability..................................................................................................... 277
Invasive Species ................................................................................................ 277
The Transition to Renewable Bioenergy: Making It Happen ................................ 277
Technology ........................................................................................................ 278
Policy................................................................................................................. 278
Conclusions............................................................................................................ 279
References.............................................................................................................. 280
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