The Energy Foundation's Advanced Low-Carbon Fuels Campaign

(February 2008) BioFuels Journal presented this map and list of cellulosic ethanol plants in development as of February 2008. An overview of the benefits of a Low Carbon Fuel Standard from the California Governor's Office and the California Air Resources Board. (January 2008) Bioenergy Wiki serves as an open and balanced electronic forum to promote the utilization of bioenergy in a sustainable manner. Biofuels: An Important Part of a Low Carbon Diet Acrobat | 887 KB (November 2007) A report prepared by Clean Vehicles Program of the Union of Concerned Scientists. (October 2007) A new report from the National Research Council says increased corn ethanol production could put pressure on local aquifers used to grow and refine corn into ethanol, increase levels of nitrogen in groundwater from pesticides and fertilizers, and exacerbate runoff pollution in streams and rivers. To read related news, the report brief, or to view the full report visit the National Academy of Sciences website. The Machine in the Garden Acrobat | 771 KB (March 2008) The Machine in the Garden briefly describes the importance of having a biofuels conversion technology that can handle a wide range of feedstocks.

In June 2005, the Energy Foundation expanded its partnership with the The McKnight Foundation on research and policy development to encourage the use of advanced biofuels. Our shared vision has two goals:

• Upper Midwest leadership-help the region lead the nation, and the world, on clean energy development with its benefits to local economies, national energy security, and the environment, and
• Sustainability-on a global level (in terms of global warming pollution) and on a local level (in terms of sustainable agricultural systems, local air impacts, and water pollution).

Rural America needs new economic development opportunities. At the same time, America faces the challenge of obtaining the affordable, reliable, and clean energy needed for economic growth. America's rural landscape is the place to substantially address both challenges. Converting crops to liquid fuels produces new income streams for farm communities and, by displacing oil imports, improves U.S energy security.

To reach these goals, we must move beyond corn ethanol, today's leading source of biofuels, and toward more advanced conversion technologies, especially processes to convert cellulose into fuels. It is clear that the right biofuel for solving global warming is one with low energy inputs, large production potential, and easy distribution. From a perspective of sustainable agriculture, the best approach is one that uses a diverse set of feedstocks, including perennials crops that can provide continuous soil cover and habitat. To avoid conflicts with food production, the ideal fuel is one that uses land not already in production for food, or that uses food crop residues, or that creates an edible co-product. Maximum rural economic development comes from farmers owning biorefineries and capturing the added value. The developing world will benefit if the technologies and feedstocks are affordable, resilient, and easily replicated, and wild and fragile lands are protected.

Managed by the Energy Foundation, this initiative is primarily focused on commercializing low-carbon transportation fuels, including advanced biofuels.

To achieve our goal, our Low-Carbon Fuels Campaign will advance public policies that:

1. Condition the market to steer investment toward low-impact biofuels
   • Set and enforce standards for low environmental impact and sustainable biofuels
   • Monetize the environmental benefits where possible, such as through carbon credits for low-carbon agricultural practices or low carbon fuels standards
2. Create long-term markets to reduce the risk of long-term investments in low-carbon fuels
3. Develop the infrastructure that facilitates the transition to low-carbon transportation fuels.