Set-asides can be better climate investment than corn ethanol
Date
2009
Journal Title
Journal ISSN
Volume Title
Publisher
Ecological Society of America
Abstract
Studies have shown that corn ethanol reduces greenhouse gas (GHG) emissions by displacing fossil fuel use. However, land-use history affects the net carbon balance through changes in soil carbon content: depending on prior land use, analysis shows that carbon (C) releases from the soil after planting corn for ethanol may completely offset carbon gains attributed to biofuel generation for at least 50 years. More surprisingly, based on a comprehensive analysis of 142 soil studies, soil carbon sequestered by setting aside former agricultural land was greater than the C credits generated by planting corn for ethanol and had equal or greater economic net present value.
Description
item.page.type
Journal Article (peer-reviewed)
item.page.format
Keywords
ENERGY, BIOFUELS, CO2, CONSERVATION RESERVE PROGRAM, CORN ETHANOL, GREENHOUSE GASES, LAND USE CHANGE, RENEWABLE ENERGY, SOIL CARBON STORAGE, LAND USE