Supply and Social Cost Estimates for Biomass from Crop Residues in the United States.

Gallagher, Paul W.; Dikeman, Mark; Fritz, John; Wailes, Eric; Gauthier, Wayne; Shapouri, Hosein

The components of social costs included in the supply analysis are cash outlays and opportunity costs associated with harvest and alternative residue uses, potential environmental damage that is avoided by excluding unsuitable land, and costs in moving residues from farms to processing plants. Regional estimates account for the growing conditions and crops of the main agricultural areas of the United States. Estimates include the main U.S. field crops with potential for residue harvest: corn, wheat, sorghum, oats, barley, rice and cane sugar. The potential contribution of residues to U.S. energy needs is discussed. Key words: biomass supply, crop residues, renewable fuels, sustainable land use, United States agriculture

AGRICULTURE; POWER resources; BIOMASS; CROP residues; BIOMASS conversion; ENERGY crops; CROP residues as fuel; EXTERNALITIES; ARABLE land

Environmental & Resource Economics, 2003, Vol 24, Issue 4, p335

0924-6460

Academic Journal

10.1023/A:1023630823210