Impact of Kansas Ethanol Production on Kansas Transportation
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2009-10-01
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TRIS Online Accession Number:01142615
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Edition:Final Report
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NTL Classification:NTL-ENERGY AND ENVIRONMENT-Alternative Fuels
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Abstract:The rapid expansion of the biofuel industry has driven the Kansas agricultural transportation market into a new era. Nationally, fuel alcohol production increased 452 percent in the 2000-2008 period. The number of ethanol production plants rose 215 percent in the same time frame. These national trends have occurred in Kansas as well. As of May 2009, there were 10 operational ethanol plants with a combined annual capacity of 438 million gallons. Many factors have contributed to the growth of the ethanol industry both in the U.S. and Kansas. Energy security and energy independence from unstable foreign countries has increased ethanol output. Global warming, caused in part by combustion of fossil fuels, has encouraged consumption of ethanol. Rural economic development related to corn and ethanol production has contributed to biofuel expansion. Federal energy policies require gasoline refineries to use 15 billion gallons of ethanol by 2015 and 36 billion by 2022. The growth of the ethanol industry in Kansas affected the Kansas corn and sorghum markets in unknown ways with resulting implications for Kansas agricultural transportation. Will local markets develop for ethanol or will the major markets continue to be the east and west coasts? The answer could impact the demand for truck and rail transport of Kansas ethanol. Distillers' grain is a co-product of ethanol production and is used as livestock feed. To what extent will distillers' grain be exported or substituted for corn as livestock feed, and what will be the effect on the demand for truck and rail transport in Kansas? Expansion of ethanol production will increase motor carrier use of county roads in the vicinity of ethanol plants, and thus the rate of deterioration of these roads. The purpose of this research is to begin to answer these questions and Tech Reports raised by increased ethanol production in Kansas.
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