Potential Economic Impacts of Allocating More Land for Bioenergy Biomass Production in Virginia

摘要: The growing attention to renewable energy and rural development has created greater demand for production of biomass feedstock bioenergy. However, forest growth rates the amount land in most existing forests may not be sufficient sustainably supply required support products industries expanding bioenergy industry. Additionally, concerns about agricultural use competition have dampened expansion on base. One ways meet is by allocating currently marginal non-forested feedstocks. In Virginia, 80% forestland under nonindustrial private ownership. allocation decisions these owners are critical production. We apply a computable general equilibrium model assess economy-wide impacts owners’ willingness plant pine woody Virginia. consider three counterfactual scenarios increase as intermediate based accept bid prices set aside more Virginia conditions. Overall, results show an social welfare household utility but decline GDP. increased from logging sector depressed manufacturing (the wood sub-sector particularly), which also relies its inputs. Results this study provide insights into debate, pathways towards sustainable supply.