Study: Renewable Fuel Standard Mandates Would Require an Additional $68 Billion
By Scott Doggett December 17, 2009
In Florida, according to a representative sample of 34 biofuels international projects and studies analyzed by Biofuels Digest, an average of 0.57 jobs are created for every $1 million invested in bioprocessing capacity, and 15.80 jobs are created for every 1 million gallons of biofuels capacity.
The publication also found that studies and projects predicted an average of 4.7 indirect jobs, for every direct job created, and an investment average of $2.95 million for every 1 million gallons of capacity.
The Digest reviewed a selection of 34 projects and studies published over the past 30 months, including first generation ethanol and biodiesel, advanced biofuels and advanced feedstocks such as algae and jatropha. The publication also included both national and international projects in its sample, as well as national and state-level economic forecasts.
The Digest found a strong correlation between the forecasts by projects and by economic forecasters. Overall, economic studies at a state and national level projected 18.10 jobs per million gallons of biofuels capacity, 4.75 indirect jobs per direct job, and $2.9 million in investment per million gallons of installed capacity.
Based on this analysis, the Digest concluded that the Renewable Fuel Standard Program mandates, which increase installed capacity from today's 13 billion gallons to 36 billion gallons by 2022, would require an additional $67.85 billion in capital, and would result in 363,400 new direct jobs and 1.707 million indirect jobs.
A theoretical transition from today's 1.3 trillion gallons of fossil-based fuel demand to 100 percent biofuels would require $3.84 trillion in capital, and create 20.54 million new direct jobs, and 96.54 million new indirect jobs.
The job numbers increase substantially if feedstock production workers are included, the publication said, in addition to employees at a bioprocessing facility. For example, the PetroAlgae microcrop system, which can be licensed today, creates 4 jobs per $1 million invested.
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