A FRAMEWORK TO ASSESS REGIONAL ENVIRONMENTAL IMPACTS OF DEDICATED ENERGY CROP PRODUCTION

Numerous studies have evaluated air quality and greenhouse gas mitigat ion benefits of biomass energy systems, but the potential environmenta l impacts associated with large-scale changes in land-use patterns nee ded to produce energy crops have not been quantified. This paper prese nts a framework to assess the potential soil, water, and biodiversity impacts that may result from the large-scale production of dedicated e nergy crops. The framework incorporates producer economic decision mod els with environmental models to assess changes in land use patterns a nd to quantify the consequent environmental impacts. Economic and poli cy issues that will affect decisions to produce energy crops are discu ssed. The framework is used to evaluate erosion and chemical runoff in two Tennessee regions. The analysis shows that production of dedicate d energy crops in place of conventional crops will significantly reduc e erosion and chemical runoff.