Bioenergy Action Plan

On April 25, 2006, Executive Order S-06-06, Bioenergy Action Plan was issued by the former governor of California, Arnold Schwarzenegger, outlining a set of target goals which would establish the increasing use and production of biofuels and biopower for both electricity generation and substitution of natural gas and petroleum within the state of California. The plan asked multiple state agencies (The Bioenergy Interagency Working Group) to work towards the advancement of biomass programs in California. The order would also help provide statewide environmental protection, mitigation and economic advancement. The plan was passed on July 7, 2006 with progress reports issued in 2007 and 2009. An updated plan was rereleased in 2011. The latest plan supports the goals of current California Governor Jerry Brown’s Clean Energy Jobs Plan . The 2011 plan evaluates strategies for overcoming the litigation challenges which deterred progress in the 2006 plan. The 2011 plan also recommends new actions for environmental progress in the state of California [1][2][3][4]

Types of Biofuels and Biomass Energies

Goals and Benefits of Incorporating Plan(s)

Bioenergy Interagency Working Group Responsibilities

2006 Bioenergy Action Plan

The original plan was written based on reviews and recommendations from public workshops and more than 40 public documents, as well as multiple prior research programmes and policy developments around the world. Stakeholder considerations for California’s potential as a leader in renewable energies was taken into account. The plan established a biofuel production target of California producing a minimum of 20% its own biofuels by 2010, 40% by 2020, and 75% by 2050. The production target for the use of biomass electricity was a 20% increase from the prior in-state goals for renewable generation by both 2010 and 2020. The 2006 plan also sought the building of at least four afforestation and carbon sequestration projects, across the state, which would supply 3 to 5 megawatts of biomass-fueled electricity to an electricity gasification plant or bio-refinery . Potential sources of energy, fuel, and chemicals from forest fuel, harvest residues, and other small wood forest products were also identified, as well as the efficiency of harvesting small forest biomass. (Each individual agency also had its own specific set of responsibilities towards meeting the goals of the Bioenergy Action Plan.)

The 2006 Bioenergy Action Plan outlined five statewide policy objectives:
  1. Maximize the contributions of bioenergy toward achieving the state’s petroleum reduction, climate change, renewable energy, and environmental goals.
  2. Establish California as a market leader in technology innovation, sustainable biomass development, and market development for bio-based products.
  3. Coordinate research, development, demonstration, and commercialization efforts across federal and state agencies.
  4. Align existing regulatory requirements to encourage production and use of California’s biomass resources.
  5. Facilitate market entry for new applications of bioenergy including electricity, biogas, and biofuels”.

[1]

2007 and 2009 Progress Reports to Plan

2007

[2]

2009

[3]

2011 Bioenergy Action Plan

Less than 40 actions out of the 63 initial actions from the 2006 plan were completed by the time the 2011 plan was developed/adjusted . The 2006 plan was reviewed at two public workshops on June 3, 2010 and December 14, 2010. The new version of the plan was changed accordingly to assure complete coordination with the goals targeted in California Governor Jerry Brown’s Clean Energy Job Plan and the Clean Energy Future Plan . The 2011 plan extends the 20% renewable electricity production with California to 2013 instead of the 2010 goal, with a 33% renewable electricity goal by 2020. Fuel related refineries, blenders, producers and importers are expected to reduce their carbon emissions by 10% by 2020. The production of 21 billion gallons of biofuels is projected for 2022. (As with the 2006 plan, each state agency has its own individual set of goals and responsibilities.)

The 2011 Bioenergy Plan objectives are outlined as followed:
  1. Increase bioenergy production at existing facilities including restarting idling plants and repowering existing facilities.
  2. Construct new bioenergy facilities.
  3. Integrate bioenergy facilities with the use of multiple fuels in collection, processing, and treatment operations.
  4. Commercialize conversion technologies by funding research and development.
  5. Remove regulatory hurdles and streamline processes.”[4]

References

  1. 1 2 3 4 California Energy Commission. "Bioenergy action plan for California" (PDF). California Energy Commission. Retrieved 6 February 2012.
  2. 1 2 Brown, S. "2007 progress to plan - bioenergy action plan for California" (PDF). California Energy Commission. Retrieved 6 February 2012.
  3. 1 2 Orta, J. "2009 progress to plan ‐ bioenergy action plan for California" (PDF). California Energy Commission. Retrieved 6 February 2012.
  4. 1 2 3 4 O'Neill, G. "2011 bioenergy action plan" (PDF). Efficiency and Renewables Division. California Energy Commission. Retrieved 6 February 2012.
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