The Biofuels Revolution: Understanding the Social, Cultural and Economic Impacts of Biofuels Development on Rural Communities
- Kansas State Univ., Manhattan, KS (United States); Kansas State University
- Kansas State Univ., Manhattan, KS (United States)
The aim of this research was an in-depth analysis of the impacts of biofuels industry and ethanol plants on six rural communities in the Midwestern states of Kansas and Iowa. The goal was to provide a better understanding of the social, cultural, and economic implications of biofuels development, and to contribute to more informed policy development regarding bioenergy. Specific project objectives were: 1. To understand how the growth of biofuel production has affected and will affect Midwestern farmers and rural communities in terms of economic, demographic, and socio-cultural impacts; 2. To determine how state agencies, groundwater management districts, local governments and policy makers evaluate or manage bioenergy development in relation to competing demands for economic growth, diminishing water resources, and social considerations; 3. To determine the factors that influence the water management practices of agricultural producers in Kansas and Iowa (e.g. geographic setting, water management institutions, competing water-use demands as well as producers attitudes, beliefs, and values) and how these influences relate to bioenergy feedstock production and biofuel processing; 4. To determine the relative importance of social-cultural, environmental and/or economic factors in the promotion of biofuels development and expansion in rural communities; The research objectives were met through the completion of six detailed case studies of rural communities that are current or planned locations for ethanol biorefineries. Of the six case studies, two will be conducted on rural communities in Iowa and four will be conducted on rural communities in Kansas. A multi-method or mixed method research methodology was employed for each case study.
- Research Organization:
- Kansas State Univ., Manhattan, KS (United States)
- Sponsoring Organization:
- USDOE
- DOE Contract Number:
- FG02-07ER64476
- OSTI ID:
- 1062587
- Report Number(s):
- DOE--FG02-07ER64476
- Country of Publication:
- United States
- Language:
- English
Similar Records
Growing and Sustaining Communities with Bioenergy
Water impacts of U.S. biofuels: Insights from an assessment combining economic and biophysical models
Multimedia
·
Wed Oct 21 00:00:00 EDT 2015
·
OSTI ID:1328866
Water impacts of U.S. biofuels: Insights from an assessment combining economic and biophysical models
Journal Article
·
Thu Sep 27 20:00:00 EDT 2018
· PLoS ONE
·
OSTI ID:1479464