By DUNCAN MANSFIELD
Associated PressPublished: Monday, 11/20/06
KNOXVILLE — As many as 100 million acres of cropland
and pastures would have to be dedicated to cultivating biomass
fuels like switchgrass to support a national goal of 25 percent
renewable energy use by 2025, a University of Tennessee study
says.
Moreover, new commercial technologies will be needed to turn
switchgrass, wheat, rice and forest products into ethanol
fuel, now principally made from corn, and their byproducts
into feedstock for power generation.
But the rewards could be great.
The study projects $700 billion in new economic activity,
including: a $180 billion growth in net farm income over
the next 20 years; creation of 5.1 million jobs to support
renewable energy enterprises; and government savings of more
than $15 billion in crop subsidies.
"
I think what is important is the change in the mentality
of the citizens of the United States to develop the attitude
that 'We can do it,' " lead researcher Burton English
told The Associated Press. "If we develop that attitude,
the goal may exceed 25 percent."
The report, released last week, concludes that not only could
U.S. farmers, ranchers and foresters produce 25 percent of
the nation's energy needs, but they could do it while still
meeting the nation's demand for food, feed and fiber.
The report suggests that about 105 million acres of the nation's
more than 800 million acres of agricultural land would need
to be dedicated to switchgrass or other energy crops, with
most of that coming from pastures. Hay acreage would need
to triple to 168 million acres.
The potential annual agricultural yield by 2025 could be
86 billion gallons of ethanol, 1.1 billion gallons of biodiesel
and 925 billion kilowatt-hours of electricity — enough
energy to support 60 million households and their cars for
a year, the study said.
"
This cutting-edge research provides the first comprehensive
look at how both crop and livestock production might respond
to increased demands for renewable energy," said J.
Read Smith, co-chair of the Kansas City-based "25 x
'25 Project" steering committee, which is promoting
the agenda for 25 percent renewable energy by 2025.
"
Not only would reaching the goal drastically reduce our dependence
on foreign energy sources, it would also have an extremely
favorable impact on rural America and the nation as a whole," Smith
said in a statement. •
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