http://www.biomassmagazine.com/blog/article/2014/04/has-energy-independence-lost-its-luster-for-biofuels
Has Energy Independence Lost its Luster for Biofuels?
By Kolby Hoagland | April 04, 2014
Only a couple years ago, a strong argument for the adoption and
deployment of domestically produced biofuels in the U.S. was its support
of our nation's energy independence. Today, that argument seems to
possess less validity as energy imports continue to decrease, reaching
their lowest level in two decades. Energy imports peaked in 2007 at 37.2
quadrillion Btu and made up 37% of the nation’s total energy portfolio.
According to EIA estimates, energy imports dropped 33% to 24.5
quadrillion by 2012. Crude oil and petroleum products dominate the
import energy market, making up 85% of net energy imports. With the
growing production of U.S. crude from fracking operations, imports of
oil and, thus, total U.S. imports of energy have dropped dramatically.
The U.S. is becoming more energy independent, but do biofuels still have
a role to play in greater energy independence?
Yes. The U.S. continues to import 150 billion gallons of petroleum
products per year from numerous countries, many of whom remain hostile
to the U.S. and its allies. The amount of petroleum imported is enormous
when compared to the current market penetration of the existing biofuel
industry. For example, the current capacity of the fuel ethanol sector
in the U.S. represents roughly 10% of total imports of oil on a gallon
per gallon basis. There remains a large quantity of petroleum products
from foreign origins that biofuels can and should displace in the
domestic market. Yes, we are producing greater quantities of domestic
oil. However, oil from fracking has a shorter well life, and do we want
to invest our energy future in an unproven source in regards to
longevity? A diversified energy portfolio is the wisest decision, and
biofuels have a strong role to play to ensure that our energy future is
secure.
I will acknowledge that using the energy independence angle to promote
biofuels has lost its luster, but it has not lost its relevance. We
should continue to cite volumes of imported oil that the U.S. will
continue to depend upon unless we replace those quantities with
biofuels, particularly the advanced biofuels that are now coming online
at a commercial scale. We must argue for a diversified portfolio that
includes greater quantities of biofuels and rids us from an
“all-our-eggs-in-one-basket” scenario with fracking. Beyond energy
independence, domestic biofuels still have rural economic development,
lower carbon rating, less hazardous, and greater economic growth
opportunities as pro-biofuel argument. Society (particularly the media)
has a tendency to follow what’s trending and lose sight of the the less
dazzling facts. Fortunately, the data shows that there is still a
significant role for biofuels to play in making the U.S. more energy
independent.
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Correction: The US imported 150.1 billion gallons of petroleum in 2013.
http://www.eia.gov/dnav/pet/pet_move_impcus_a2_nus_ep00_im0_mbbl_a.htm
conversion factor- 1 million US gallons = 23,809.5238 barrels of oil
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