High-Value Renewable Energy from Prairie Grasses

• Published in: Environmental science & technology Vol. 36; no. 10; pp. 2122 - 2129
• Main Authors: McLaughlin, S. B, de la Torre Ugarte, D. G, Garten, C. T, Lynd, L. R, Sanderson, M. A, Tolbert, V. R, Wolf, D. D
• Format: Journal Article
• Language: English
• Published: Washington, DC American Chemical Society 15.05.2002
• Subjects: Agronomy. Soil science and plant productions; Applied sciences; Bioelectric Energy Sources - economics; BIOFUELS; Biological and medical sciences; Biomass; Commerce; COMMERCIALIZATION; Conservation of Natural Resources; Cost-Benefit Analysis; CROPS; ECONOMICS; EMISSION; Energy; ENERGY PLANNING, POLICY AND ECONOMY; Exact sciences and technology; FARMS; FINANCIAL INCENTIVES; Fundamental and applied biological sciences. Psychology; General agronomy. Plant production; GRAMINEAE; Grasses; Greenhouse Effect; GREENHOUSE GASES; Natural energy; Poaceae; Prairies; PRICES; PROFITS; RENEWABLE ENERGY SOURCES; Renewable resources; United States; Use of agricultural and forest wastes. Biomass use, bioconversion; Great Plains of America; United States; North America; America; Agricultural development; Current information; Economic analysis; Monocotyledones; Economic value; Environmental policy; Political aspect; Socioeconomic study; Dry matter; C4-Type; Biomass; Socioeconomics; Temperate zone; Renewable resources; Energy crop; Energy resources; Gramineae; Angiospermae; Bioenergy; Industrialized country; Plant production; Energy economy; Energy policy; Agricultural economics; Panicum virgatum; High value; Renewable energy; Agricultural policy; Agricultural resources; Herbaceous plant; Spermatophyta
• ISSN: 0013-936X; 1520-5851
• DOI: 10.1021/es010963d

Projected economic benefits of renewable energy derived from a native prairie grass, switchgrass, include nonmarket values that can reduce net fuel costs to near zero. At a farm gate price of $44.00/dry Mg, an agricultural sector model predicts higher profits for switchgrass than conventional crops on 16.9 million hectares (ha). Benefits would include an annual increase of $6 billion in net farm returns, a $1.86 billion reduction in government subsidies, and displacement of 44−159 Tg/year (1 Tg = 1012 g) of greenhouse gas emissions. Incorporating these values into the pricing structure for switchgrass bioenergy could accelerate commercialization and provide net benefits to the U.S. economy.