DOE: new data shows "minimal to zero indirect land use change" from corn ethanol

In Tennessee, a study by the DOE’s Oak Ridge National Laboratory has found that  “minimal to zero indirect land use change was induced by use of corn for ethanol over the last decade,” based on an analysis of empirical data between 2001 and 2008. The review of the data found that feedstock for ethanol expansion was mainly derived from domestic reallocations (85%) and increased yields (6%).

The researchers concluded that “models calibrated to historic data could not adequately capture implications of large, new changes in the economy (such as the 78 million ton increase in corn use for ethanol)”. The researchers, presenting to the California Air Resources Board, which has imposed a substantial ILUC penalty on corn ethanol, found that “the CARB ILUC approach needs to incorporate ongoing gains in knowledge and experience.”

The presentation, which was given at the California Air Resources Board (CARB) Low Carbon Fuel Standard Expert Workgroup Meeting, can be downloaded here.