Environmental Impacts of Ethanol & Bio-Based Fuels
	Team Leader Bill Gidley 402-471-4210 bill.gidley@nebraska.gov

The ITRC Environmental Impacts of Ethanol and Bio-Based Fuels (Biofuels) Team was created in 2009 to develop guidance that could reduce the environmental impact from the production, transportation, distribution, and storage of ethanol and other bio-based fuels.

Ethanol and other plant-based fuels (collectively known as “biofuels”) are increasingly being used to lessen dependence on foreign oil and other petroleum-based fuels. Production facilities have emerged throughout the country, and the number continues to grow. The environmental consequences of the production, transportation, distribution, and storage of these fuels include water consumption for production, releases of the fuels and their by-products into surface and subsurface water systems, waste management and handling, and air quality issues.

The first project of the Biofuels Team will be the development of a technical and regulatory guidance document addressing the environmental concerns of expanded production and use of ethanol gasoline (E10–E85 range) and other biofuels and defining possible solutions for a relatively new and growing industry. The current infrastructure and refinement of traditional fuels can be evaluated against alternative fuels (ethanol and other biofuels) to provide insight into reducing overall environmental impacts.

Here are the benefits of these efforts:

• The project will improve the knowledge base of local, state, and federal agencies; organizations that produce, distribute, and store alternative fuels; and environmental consultants.
• The project will provide stakeholders with best management practices for minimizing associated wastes and factoring environmental costs into profitability equations.
• The project will provide stakeholders with tools to evaluate corrective action for releases of wastes and by-products.
• The project will assist government agencies, planners, and developers in preparing for environmental and other impacts as additional production and distribution facilities are constructed, retrofitted, or decommissioned.
• The public will benefit by being able to make informed decisions as facilities are proposed or constructed in their communities.