Can Maine facilitate local growth of the cellulosic ethanol industry by sustainably using her extensive forest resources as a feedstock? A literature review and GIS based analysis on the how and where A thesis submitted by William M. Smith in partial fulfillment of the requirements for the degree of Master of Arts In Urban and Environmental Policy and Planning TUFTS UNIVERSITY May 2009 Adviser: Mary Davis Can Maine facilitate local growth of the cellulosic ethanol industry by sustainably using her extensive forest resources as a feedstock? A literature review and GIS based analysis on the how and where By William Smith Submitted to the Department of Urban and Environmental Policy and Planning in partial fulfillment of the requirements for the degree of M.A. in Urban and Environmental Policy and Planning Abstract Rising oil prices and increased scientific and political discussions of finding alternative energy sources have resulted in growth of support for developing ethanol as replacement or substitute fuel. Second generation (cellulosic) ethanol can be developed using biomass as its feedstock, but is produced commercially yet. The use of forest waste as a feedstock for generating ethanol is considered in the state of Maine. Background research examines current research in the field, the role of forests and an overview of the situation in Maine. The role of fire management is highlighted as fire prevention methods such as thinning could provide further inputs for ethanol generation. A spatial analysis is conducted finding paper mills located in Maine which are in close proximity to necessary resources. These mills can be converted to produce ethanol as well as paper. Such a conversion would be the recommended first step in Maine to produce significant amounts of ethanol using local resources. A discussion of the limitations of the data and process, as well as suggestions for further research, follows. ii Acknowledgements I would like to extend my gratitude to Professor Mary Davis whose advice and guidance played a significant role in the final direction this research took. Her editing suggestions and comments along the way helped greatly improve the quality of the final product. I am grateful that she agreed to supervise this project. I would also like to thank Professor Barbara Parmenter who saved me countless hours in the GIS lab with her timely advice and suggestions for where to find data or which tools and techniques to use in my analysis. In addition, I would like to thank Prof. Ann Rappaport whose Climate Change class helped plant the seeds of an idea for a way to battle climate change AND forest fires. Her early advice on this project helped me to transform the idea into the beginnings of a thesis. I may never have become as interested in this topic had I not had the opportunity to work for the USFS Fire Management Office in Bridger Teton National Forest in Big Piney, WY. In particular I would like to acknowledge my Engine Boss there Rick Lancaster and the Assistant Fire Management Officer Justin Kaber. Discussions with them helped me understand the significance climate change has been having on the fire regimes of the western US, as well as the importance of reducing costs for management techniques such as forest thinning. Finally I would like to thank my fellow students, especially those who shared the GIS lab with me so often, for helping to keep me on track over the course of this project, and the Department of Urban and Environmental Planning and Policy for providing a nurturing environment for all us ‘practical visionaries’ in training. iii Table of Contents Abstract……………………………………………………………………………ii Acknowledgements………………………………………………………………iii List of Tables and Figures…………………………………………………………v Introduction………………………………………………………………………..1 Chapter 1: Background………………………………………………………………………..2 Chapter 2: Methodology……………………………………………………………………..35 Chapter 3: Results……………………………………………………………………………46 Chapter 4: Conclusion……………………………………………………………………….71 Bibliography……………………………………………………………………..76 iv Lists of Tables and Figures Tables Table 1: Federal Government efforts to research or legislatively support ethanol……………………………………………………………………………24 Table 2: State Government efforts to research or legislatively support ethanol……………………………………………………………………………27 Table 3: Comparison of Straight Line and Street Network Buffering techniques………………………………………………………………………..39 Table 4: WUI area within 60 miles of each mill………………………………....60 Table 5: Forest Resource areas within 60 miles of each mill……………………61 Table 6: Aggregate ranking of highest FR and WUI, ordered……………….......62 Table 7: Aggregate Area of FR and WUI areas combined, ordered……………..63 Table 8: Maine’s Paper Mill Employee counts…………………………………..64 Figures Fig 1: Population Density by County……………………………………………15 Fig 2: Population Density by Census Block……………………………………..15 Fig 3: 60 Mile Buffering Techniques…………………………………………….38 Fig. 4: WUI by County ………………………………………………………….40 Fig 5: Wildland Urban Interface…………………………………………………40 Fig 6: Forest Resources by County………………………………………………43 Fig 7: Forest Resources…………………………………………………………..43 Fig 8: Red Shield Environmental………………………………………………...45 Fig 9: Androscoggin Mill………………………………………………………..48 Fig 10: Bucksport Mill……………………………………………………….......49 Fig 11: Fraser paper……………………………………………………………..50 Fig 12: Katahdin Paper Company………………………………………………..51 Fig 13: Lincoln Paper…………………………………………………………….52 Fig 14: Madison Paper…………………………………………………………...53 Fig 15: Otis Mill.………………………………………………………………...54 Fig 16: Red Shield Environmental……………………………………………….55 Fig 17: Rumford Paper Mill……………………………………………………...56 Fig 18: Somerset Operations……………………………………………………..57 Fig 19: Woodland Mill…………………………………………………………...58 Fig 20: Westbrook Operations…………………………………………………...59 Fig 21: Global Intact Forest Landscapes (IFLs – Green) and valuable forested land outside the IFLs (yellow)…………………………………………………...70 v Introduction This thesis will look at where and how in Maine it will be feasible to support the growth of the cellulosic ethanol industry based on a literature review, a breakdown of the economics of the process and a GIS-based analysis of which regions have the most potential based on their resources. Can Maine facilitate local growth of the cellulosic ethanol industry by sustainably using her extensive forest resources as a feedstock? Why is this important, for Maine in particular? Cellulosic ethanol can be considered a value-added wood product. Forest products have always been a foundation of Maine’s economy and this could generate green jobs in rural regions. Since it is not economical to produce cellulosic ethanol far from the forests or fields that provide the wood input, providing these inputs from Maine’s forests ensures that Maine attracts the processing plants that generate these fuels, further bolstering local economies. Virginia Governor Tim Kaine recently discussed giving preference to non-foodstock biofuels in his State of the State address (Lane, 2009). With forest resources more plentiful than agriculture (Smith et al., 2004), Maine is fertile ground for establishing similar priorities. Because of recent scientific breakthroughs and friendly national policies, the nascent cellulosic ethanol industry may have a bright future. Maine can exploit this potential by using forest residue as its feedstock thus generating rural economic development, playing a role in mitigating climate change and reducing fire risk. 1 Chapter 1: Background In order to look in depth into the potential for ethanol generation, this thesis will first present background on the subject to give context for the discussion about Maine. To begin, a description of what ethanol is and how cellulosic ethanol can be generated with forest waste leads into an overview of forest management, which focuses on the role fire plays and how managing a forest to minimize fire risk can be coupled with harvesting for ethanol. Depending on the feedstock, ethanol has a number of positives and negatives, which are reviewed in order to note in what ways using forest waste for ethanol can be better than corn, but also carries risks that those in Maine should be aware of as ethanol generation there increases. A brief discussion on the human and physical geography of Maine comes next giving the reader familiarity with the state followed by a discussion of the potential that exists for ethanol generation in Maine and the work that is already being done there that provides a starting point for the research. Government efforts related to ethanol are reviewed in order to discuss what research is being done and legislation is in place on the federal level that lays the groundwork for a near term increase in demand for cellulosic ethanol. Additionally, research being done in other states is also reviewed to give an example of what Maine could or should do in order to further research or support cellulosic ethanol there. The final two sections lay out what the literature is saying about what steps should be taken next and what evaluation tools are being used in those next steps. 2 Ethanol The biomass energy sector comprises the oldest fuel source in the world, used by the first Neanderthals to warm themselves by a burning wood fire. In the modern context biomass, including waste, naturally growing sources and human farmed crops are a renewable source as they are converted into fuels such as ethanol, which can be used to power vehicles as well as buildings. A wide variety of crops can be grown to be used as biofuels, with corn