Leveling the Clean Energy Playing Field
I believe New Mexico can be the place where a clean energy economy leads the nation in developing the jobs of the future. I saw this first-hand today at NMSU's Energy Research Laboratory, which is on the front lines of technology with huge potential.
Advanced biofuels like algae use less energy, water or land than traditional biofuels like corn-based ethanol. And they also have the potential of creating hundreds of thousands of good-paying jobs for hardworking Americans - as long as the right policies are in place to encourage growth.
Our Renewable Fuel Standard (RFS) requires the use of biofuels in the gasoline supply and sets targets for the quantities of biofuels that we develop. It includes both a conventional biofuel standard (mostly corn) and a separate advanced biofuels mandate.
Today, we've almost tapped out on the amount of traditional ethanol we can produce or use- those yellow bars on the chart above. Corn ethanol reduces oil imports, but it uses significant amounts of energy, water, and competes with food.
That's why in 2007, Congress created a second tier to the standard-one that would rely on advanced biofuels. At the time, cellulosic biofuels that convert woody, non-food material into ethanol were the main focus.
So Congress set the light green bar as the cellulosic standard, and left the smaller, dark green portion for other "advanced biofuels" like algae. This was a mistake in an overall good policy. Both cellulosic ethanol and algae are promising, so all advanced biofuels should be treated equally. The good news - this is easy to fix.
During my visit to NMSU today, I announced that when Congress returns to session, I will introduce bipartisan legislation with Senator Larry Crapo (R-ID) to create a "technology neutral" level playing field for all advanced biofuels, including algae.
It's simple - we combine the two green bars on that chart. It won't reduce the overall biofuels targets and it won't pick one technology over another. It leaves it up to the market to decide on the technologies of the future.
And putting algae on a level playing field with other biofuels, I believe, will give algae and New Mexico a chance to shine.
The biggest benefit that algae have as a biofuel is land use. Compared to soybeans or corn, the amount of land needed to grow large quantities of biofuel from algae is tiny.
It is also limited in its water impacts. As we've seen in New Mexico, algae can be grown using non-fresh water, like the trillions of gallons of brackish water beneath our state which is generally unsuitable for human or agricultural use.
Less land and non-fresh water mean algae do not compete with other crops for food and feed. As of 2011, more corn in the U.S. now goes to ethanol than for food, and that has had an impact on prices for consumers and ranchers.
Algae needs three things to grow - sun, water and nutrients. In New Mexico we're blessed with an abundance of all three.
But most importantly, parity for algae will mean new clean energy jobs in New Mexico.
The Algal Biomass Organization surveyed 52 of its member companies to estimate the job growth from legislative and regulatory parity for algae. Their report indicated explosive growth in this field - more than 200,000 jobs - if Congress puts algae on a level playing field.
I believe Congress shouldn't be in the business of picking winners and losers when it comes to the use of emerging technologies. Our legislation is one half of the parity question. Cellulosic ethanol also receives a tax credit that algae biofuel does not currently qualify for and there are similar efforts to remedy that situation in Congress.
New Mexico is well-positioned to be a leader in this. I'm a firm believer that government must do everything it can to create the kind of conditions and environment that foster innovation. Otherwise, we'll be left behind in the global race for a vibrant, clean energy economy.
