Abstract:
This paper lists the high priority research and education foci, as identified by a variety of public and private sector scientists who provided input, in order to achieve the vision, that "by 2025, America's farms, ranches and forests will provide 25% of the total energy consumed in the United States, while continuing to provide safe, abundant and affordable food, feed and fiber." The benefits of renewable energy are many: water, geothermal, wind and solar energy conversion contribute to reduced atmospheric carbon, biomass conversion to transportation fuels enhances national security by reducing dependence on imported petroleum, and all contribute to the economic vitality of rural America. The priorities reflect that scientists recognize major logistic challenges, especially linking energy source to locations and patterns of energy consumption, and the massive biomass requirement for significant production of transportation fuel. Highest research priorities include modeling of systems to mesh variable wind and solar generated electricity with other sources; assessing the relative efficiencies of multiple biological and thermochemical technologies in yielding consumable energy forms (ethanol, biodiesel, gasoline, syn-gas, bio-oil, or other biofuels); increasing per acre biomass yields and the processing efficiency traits of grasses, woody species, and grains while holding neutral or enhancing impacts on soil, water and the environment; and modeling systems for efficient handling of the biomass volume. Highest education priorities include insuring that faculty are equipped to transmit cutting edge knowledge to the next generation of scientists, professionals and business leaders, curriculum development, and aggressive extension education that conveys knowledge and research output to policy leaders, conversion industry workers, biomass producers and the general public.
Keywords:
renewable energy, research, education, agriculture, forestry, energy
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