Considerable effort and money are devoted to developing alternative energy sources, such as wind power, solar power, cellulosic ethanol, and biofuels. This ebook is a collection of research papers on alternative energy sources presented at the Economics of Alternative Energy Sources and Globalization: The Road Ahead Conference that was held in November 2009 in Orlando, Florida. Thirty-three papers were presented by leading experts in the field, with about half being published in the e-book. Several of the papers explored the economics of biofuels produced from corn, sugarcane, and/or forestry materials. Two of the papers addressed the link between biofuel production and U.S. agricultural policy, and how biofuels could reduce U.S. Treasury costs even though biofuels increase food prices. International subsidies promote alternative fuel production (e.g., Brazil). This ebook should be a very useful resource for readers interested in alternative energy research and related economic policy.
Table of Contents
Foreword iPreface ii
List of Contributors iii
Summary x
CHAPTERS
1. The Global Petroleum Picture 3
R. Rapier
2. Government Policies to Support Biofuel Production: Why and to What Effect? 13
K. K. Klein and D. G. Le Roy
3. The Economics of Biofuels, Food, and the Environment 24
D. Zilberman, D. Rajagopal, S. Sexton, G. Hochman, and T. Serra
4. Potential Effect of Ethanol on the U.S. Economy: A General Equilibrium Approach 35
C.B. Moss and T.G. Schmitz
5. Measuring the Subsidy Component of Biofuel Tax Credits and Exemptions 49
E. M. Kliauga, H. de Gorter, and D. R. Just
6. Hidden Ethanol Subsidies in Brazil Revisited 65
T. G. Schmitz and J. L. Seale, Jr
7. Impacts of Future Energy Price and Biofuel Production Scenarios on International Crop
Prices, Production, and Trade 76
G. Schwarz, H. von Witzke, and S. Noleppa
8. Alternative Domestic and Trade Policies for Biofuels and Market Variability in the United
States 91
Y. Yano, D. Blandford, and Y. Surry
9. Food Before Fuel: Issues and Price Effect 109
Z. Zhang and M. Wetzstein
10. U.S. Biofuel Policy Effects on Agricultural Commodity Exports 114
W. Thompson, S. Meyer, and P. Westhoff
11. Long-Term Effects of Increasing Ethanol Production on Agricultural Markets and Trade,
Land Use, and Food Security 126
H. L. Bryant, J. Lu, J. W. Richardson, and J. L. Outlaw
12. Critical Economic Factors for Success of a Biomass Conversion Plant for Agricultural
Residue, Yard Residue, and Wood Waste in Florida 139
I. R. Granja, J. J. Vansickle, L. Ingram, and R. Weldon
13. Global Biofuel Expansion under Different Energy Price Environments 146
M.M. Peters
14. The Economic Feasibility of Electricity Generation from Biomass on the South Plains of Texas 158
X. Liu, M. Farmer, and S. Capareda
15. Impact of Voluntary Carbon and Bioenergy Markets on Non-Industrial Private Forest
Landowners' Profitability 170
P. Dwivedi, J. Alavalapati, D. Carter, and S. Larkin
16. Economic Impacts of Expanded Woody Biomass Utilization for Electric Power Generation in
Florida 183
A. W. Hodges, T. J. Stevens, and M. Rahmani
17. Biofuels and the Transformation of Agriculture: The Case of Climate Change Policy
Instruments 196
D. De La Torre Ugarte, and C. Hellwinckel
Subject Index 206
Author Index 210
