This industry workshop features presentations by Rice University scientists who have been studying the environmental impacts of ethanol, including new research about ethanol's groundwater footprint. Other topics to be discussed at the workshop include the environmental impacts of the current U.S. biofuels policy, Baker Institute analysis of the export potential of South America and the Caribbean, as well as external opinion from industry experts on the kinds of logistical, transportation, market and other problems that might emerge in the scale up of ethanol production and consumption in the U.S. gasoline market.
The aim of the workshop is to collect feedback and enhance the Houston energy industry's knowledge of biofuels and related topics, with an eye to preparing a comprehensive policy report from the institute this fall.
This event was co-sponsored by Chevron Technology Ventures.
Click here to see the event program
Event Agenda and Presentations
9:00 am Environmental Impacts of Biofuels
Overview: Problems with Corn-Ethanol
"Ethanol in Fuel: Implications for Groundwater Pollution"
Dr. Pedro Alvarez, Department Chair, George R. Brown Professor of Engineering, Dept. of Civil & Environmental Engineering, Rice University
"Water and Land Requirements to Grow Biofuel Crops in the U.S."Rosa Dominguez, Baker Institute Graduate Fellow, Dept. of Civil & Environmental Engineering, Rice University
"Food and Gas: Is There a Sustainable Solution?"
Prof. Alexander J.B. Zehnder, President of the Board, Swiss Federal Institutes of Technology
"Air Quality and GHG Emissions"
Marcelo Dias De Oliveira, Graduate Research Fellow, Dept. of Civil & Environmental Engineering, Rice University
"Soil and Water Quality Implications Associated with Corn Stover Removal and Herbaceous Energy Crop Production in Iowa"
Dr. Susan E. Powers, Professor and Associate Dean for Research & Graduate Studies, Clarkson University
11:00 am Coffee Break
11:20 am Session II: Ethanol Import Potential
Current Trends: Market Overview
"The Impact of Biofuels on Western Hemisphere Energy Security"
Dr. Ron Soligo, Baker Institute Rice Scholar and Professor of Economics, Rice University
"Renewable Fuel Distribution Infrastructure: Challenges and Procedure"
John Mahon, Director, Business Development, Renewable Fuels, Kinder~Morgan Terminals
12:15 pm Lunch
2:00 pm Session III: The Logistics of Expanding U.S. Biofuels Use
"Vehicle Certification: E10 or Beyond?"Coleman Jones, Biofuels Implementation Manager, GM
"Demonstration and Driveability Project to Determine the Feasibility of Using E20 as a Motor Fuel"Darrick Zarling, Scientist, Mechanical Engineering, University of Minnesota
"Beyond E10 - U.S. Biofuels Policy: Progress and Challenges"
Larry Kumins, Vice President, Research & Analysis, Energy Policy Research Foundation, Inc.
"Market Interruptions & Trading: Droughts, Floods & Other Market Issues"
Joe Harroun, Advanced Trading Inc.
4:00 pm Session IV: Long-term Climate and Sustainability Challenges to Expanding Biofuels Use in the United States
"Outlook for Drought Conditions: The U.S. Midwest"
Robert Harriss, President and CEO, Houston Advanced Research Center (HARC)
