The Updated Billion-Ton Resource Assessment

Abstract

This paper summarizes the results of an update to a resource assessment, published in 2005, commonly referred to as the billion-ton study. The updated results are consistent with the 2005 BTS in terms of overall magnitude. However, in looking at the major categories of feedstocks the forest residue biomass potential was determined to be less owing to tighter restrictions on forest residue supply including restrictions due to limited projected increase in traditional harvest for pulpwood and sawlogs. . The crop residue potential was also determined to be less because of the consideration of soil carbon and not allowing residue removal from conventionally tilled corn acres. The energy crop potential was estimated to be much greater largely because of land availability and modeling of competition among various competing uses of the land. Generally, the scenario assumptions in the updated assessment are much more plausible to show a “billion-ton” resource, which would be sufficient to displace 30% or more of the country’s present petroleum consumption.