Framing and reframing the environmental risks and economic benefits of ethanol production in Iowa

Recent research exposing environmental and social externalities of biofuels has undermined the earlier national consensus that they would provide climate mitigation and rural development benefits, but support for ethanol remains strong in Iowa. The objective of this paper is to understand how stakeholder groups in Iowa have framed the benefits and risks associated with ethanol’s impact on the local economy and environment. Our case study draws on in-depth, semi-structured interviews conducted with key informants from agricultural organizations, environmental organizations, and government departments in the state. We find that in Iowa, widespread support for ethanol production exists among government, energy, and farm groups, and that they frame ethanol production as economically beneficial to rural communities and agriculture, while minimizing the possibility of associated environmental risks. Although participants from environmental organizations in Iowa express apprehension about the environmental impacts of expanded corn ethanol production, their unease is muted in relation to economic benefits and in relation to other environmental issues, and few have publicly voiced their concerns. To understand these findings, we draw from the environmental sociology literature that examines the role of powerful natural resource interests in framing the importance of resource extraction and commodity production to community identity and economy and in delegitimizing and naturalizing associated environmental issues and problems. We argue that powerful natural resource interests in Iowa both naturalize environmental problems related to ethanol production and engage in diversionary reframing to emphasize the economic benefits while minimizing or rejecting the potential environmental risks.     

江苏能源消耗的碳排放估算及趋势检验

在文献综述及现状分析的基础上,对江苏经济发展中的能源消耗碳排放量进行了估算,并对江苏省经济增长与碳排放量之间的关系进行了实证研究。研究结果表明:江苏省经济增长与能源消耗碳排放量之间的关系呈现弱"N"型变化趋势,说明随着江苏经济的快速增长,环境治理投资存在明显不足。需要进一步增加环境污染治理投资,制定长期的环境治理投入计划,重点控制大型污染源,利用新的技术与工艺提高环境治理效果,最大限度地减少能源消耗中的碳排放量,促进江苏经济增长与能源消耗碳排放量之间的关系向倒"U"型转化。     

(Bio)fueling farm policy: the biofuels boom and the 2008 farm bill

In the mid-2000s, rising gas prices, political instability, pollution, and fossil fuel depletion brought renewable domestic energy production onto the policy agenda. Biofuels, or fuels made from plant materials, came to be seen as America’s hope for energy security, environmental conservation, and rural economic revitalization. Yet even as the actual environmental, economic, and energy contributions of a biofuels boom remained debatable, support for biofuels swelled and became a prominent driver of not only US energy policy but of US farm policy as well. This paper asks why biofuels became such a powerful force in farm policy debates, and draws on policy windows theory and discourse analysis to analyze biofuels’ contributions to the passage of the 2008 farm bill. It finds that budgetary and political factors combined with a particular set of patriotic biofuels-oriented discourses to carry energy policy debates into farm policy. It also comments on the implications of biofuels policies for conservation and sustainable land use in 2008 and beyond.     

A spreadsheet-based model for teaching the agronomic,economic, and environmental aspects of bioenergy cropping systems

In order to assess and compare the economic and environmental sustainability of newly emerging bioenergy cropping systems, students need a comprehensive computer-based tool for cataloging attributes of various proposed bioenergy feedstock crops. We have developed a spreadsheet-based model whereby students develop financial budgets; energy budgets, and carbon budgets, for various bioenergy cropping systems. This paper details the rationale and development of the teaching tool spreadsheet-based model. At the beginning of the semester, students working in small groups consisting of 2–3 individuals are assigned ownership of a “virtual farm” in a designated geographical region. Throughout the semester, as particular bioenergy crops are discussed in lecture, the students use the teaching model to develop economic, energy, and carbon budgets for each crop specific to the geographical aspects of their virtual farm. The computer spreadsheet model helps students determine the approximate farmgate value of bioenergy feedstocks and determine the carbon and energy footprint associated with the various cropping systems. At the conclusion of the semester, students use the model generated results to contrast and compare their farm’s bioenergy cropping system economic and environmental performance to that of farms situated in other geographical areas. End-of-semester student evaluations of the course resulted in ratings of “superior” or “above average” for student interest and all other parameters associated with the course. The results demonstrate the effectiveness of the teaching tool and a motivation and willingness for students to acquire knowledge of bioenergy based systems as part of their formal education to prepare for future employment opportunities.     

不同肥料对连作烟草根际土壤微生物及酶活性的影响

烟草连作障碍是制约烟草产量与品质的关键因素。以连作12年的烟草土壤为对象,通过施用不同肥料, 研究了不同肥料对连作烟草产量、根际土壤微生物量、土壤酶活性的影响。结果表明：不同施肥处理对连作烟草产量及土壤微生物及酶活性的影响存在一定差异,施用农家肥有利于提高连作烟草产量。土壤微生物量分析结果显示,不同施肥处理后烟草根际土壤微生物量碳、氮及微生物呼吸强度依次为：农家肥>有机肥>氮肥>复合肥。与土壤营养循环相关酶活性的分析结果表明,不同施肥处理后烟草根际土壤中性磷酸酶、碱性磷酸酶、脲酶、蔗糖酶活性以有机肥处理后活性最大,而酸性磷酸酶则以农家肥处理后活性最高。与土壤生物抗逆性相关的多酚氧化酶、过氧化物酶、过氧化氢酶、脱氢酶活性分析的结果显示,不同施肥处理后烟草根际土壤抗性相关酶活性大小依次为：农家肥>有机肥>氮肥>复合肥。     

重庆市循环经济发展水平能值评估

运用能值分析理论与方法,从能值来源、能值经济、资源投入产出、环境压力、综合指数5个方面构建了循环经济评价指标体系,对2005～2010年重庆市循环经济发展状况进行定量分析。结果表明,近年来重庆市经济的快速发展主要依赖于当地不可更新资源的消耗,能值自给率保持在85%以上,资源基础相对雄厚,但系统能值产出率持续降低,环境负载率由8.94上升到18.76,循环经济发展指数从1.33下降到0.33,环境压力的不断增大阻碍了系统的可持续发展。因此,重庆市应从不可更新资源的合理利用入手,提高资源能值利用效率,优化调整产业结构,大力发展建设循环经济工业园区,从而不断提升城市循环经济水平。     

福建省农村居民能源消费状况研究

实证分析了福建省农村居民能源消费的基本特征及其影响因素,分析结果表明,福建省农村居民能源消费主要存在着能源消费结构性矛盾突出以及由此引起的环境约束和消费效率低下等问题。为此,根据福建省的农村能源资源特点和经济、环境、社会状况,遵循经济、环保、协调的原则,提出“提高现有消费能源的利用效率,开发优质、清洁、经济的农村能源”即“节流开源”的方法解决福建省衣村居民能源消费问题的思路。     

循环经济与陕西能源资源的可持续发展

循环经济作为高效、现代的经济运作模式,是经济、社会、环境实现可持续发展的最优选择.对于能源资源丰富的陕西地区,在能源资源的开采利用过程中,存在着能源消费结构不合理、技术落后、管理体制不顺、环境污染严重等问题.基于此现状,提出要实现陕西能源资源的可持续发展,就必须立足于循环经济,大力推进能源资源的综合利用.     

Energy and the u.s. Economy: a biophysical perspective

A series of hypotheses is presented about the relation of national energy use to national economic activity (both time series and cross-sectional) which offer a different perspective from standard economics for the assessment of historical and current economic events. The analysis incorporates nearly 100 years of time series data and 3 years of cross-sectional data on 87 sectors of the United States economy. Gross national product, labor productivity, and price levels are all correlated closely with various aspects of energy use, and these correlations are improved when corrections are made for energy quality. A large portion of the apparent increase in U.S. energy efficiency has been due to our ability to expand the relative use of high-quality fuels such as petroleum and electricity, and also to relative shifts in fuel use between sectors of the economy. The concept of energy return on investment is introduced as a major driving force in our economy, and data are provided which show a marked decline in energy return on investment for all our principal fuels in recent decades. Future economic growth will depend largely on the net energy yield of alternative fuel sources, and some standard economic models may need to be modified to account for the biophysical constraints on human economic activity.     

吉林省高校节能减排问题的探析

随着社会的发展,能源问题成为制约经济发展的关键问题。高等学校是国家培养人才的关键部门,而其自身也存在着能源消耗的问题。本文从吉林省高校节能减排优势、劣势出发,探讨节能减排在构建节约型校园中的地位,提出相应的解决措施和办法。     

泸州市生态经济系统的能值分析

通过能值分析方法,对泸州市2002～2007年生态经济系统的能值投入率、能值使用强度、环境负荷率、人均能值使用量、电力能值使用量比、净能值产出率、可持续发展指数7个能值指标进行了定量分析。结果表明,泸州市的可持续发展处于一个不稳定的状态,在经济上较依赖于本地资源。虽然人民生活水平在不断提高,但较发达地区还有一定差距,泸州市在经济发展水平方面仍属于欠发达水平,还有较大的经济发展潜力。     

畜禽污染防治工程典型模式效益分析

案例分析能源生态型沼气工程、能源环保型沼气工程和发酵床技术的工艺类型,比较3种工程的经济效益、技术效益和环境效益。沼气工程前期投资大,但大型能源生态型沼气工程可以通过丰富再生能源获得收益,能源环保型沼气工程相对于能源生态型沼气工程投资大、收益小,发酵床技术可以实现畜禽粪便"零排放",但菌剂费用造成高额运行费用。建议加强大型生态型沼气工程发展,增强发酵床菌剂的研究以降低发酵床运行成本,推动有机肥市场的有效运行。     

秸秆资源化利用与新型环保农村建设研究

秸秆作为一种可再生资源,数量庞大,应用广泛,但我国秸秆资源整体利用率较低。根据我国国情,将秸秆资源化利用水平逐步提高,诸如秸秆建材、秸秆能源、秸秆饲料、秸秆成型等可行性产业的延伸推广,合理开发利用秸秆资源,扩展秸秆资源产业结构,实现农民致富,环境受益,可实现经济效益与环保效益的双赢,为我国社会主义新农村建设提供了一条可持续发展的途径。     

江西省主要作物(稻、棉、油)生态经济系统综合分析评价

基于成本收益分析和能值分析理论,构建经济效益指标和生态经济效益指标,对江西省水稻(早稻和晚稻)、棉花、油菜种植系统的经济效益、生态经济综合效益进行分析和评价。经济效益方面,分析比较了单位面积作物成本构成,构建了净利润(Rev)和净利润率(Prof)两个经济效益指标;生态经济方面,分析比较了单位面积能值投入产出构成,构建了能值投入率、能值产出率、环境负载率、宏观经济能值等四个能值评价指标。计算结果表明江西省水稻、棉花和油菜等作物的生产成本占主导地位,价格因素是影响种植成本最重要的因素。水稻主要是以生产物资费用为主,而棉花和油菜以人工费用为主。从产值和收益来看,Rev大小为棉花>晚稻>早稻>油菜,Prof大小为晚稻>棉花>早稻>油菜。水稻、棉花和油菜种植系统对自然更新资源的依靠程度较低,系统的维系主要依赖于外部购买能值的投入,其构成与生产成本构成是一致的。水稻、棉花和油菜等作物的种植系统能值投入率比较高,大小为棉花>早稻>晚稻>油菜,能值产出率:油菜>棉花>晚稻>早稻,造成生态环境压力为晚稻>早稻>油菜>棉花,宏观经济能值大小为油菜>棉花>晚稻>早稻。结果表明,江西省水稻、棉花、油菜种植系统是高度开放的系统,主要依赖购买能值,但是系统产出率不高,其环境压力也不大。研究结果可为深入认识江西水稻、棉花和油菜等主要作物种植系统提供一个新的视角,并为种植业可持续发展提供一定的参考价值。     

户用光伏发电系统设计与研究

针对目前我国新农村建设过程中的实际情况,为使太阳能这一新能源更好的服务于农村电气化建设,以沈阳农村地区为例,根据当地的气象、环境状况及具体负荷情况,进行户用独立光伏发电系统设计,对系统的光伏倾角、光伏电池板、蓄电池、控制器及逆变器等进行了优化的设计与选择,在满足用户供电需求下,尽量减少初始投资,同时归纳了设计过程中应注意的事项。用专业的光伏系统设计软件PVSYST对设计方案进行仿真,对其用户满足率、能量利用率、蓄电池工作状态、经济效益及环境效益进行了详细的分析,验证了设计方案的可行性。     

基于VAR模型的能源消费结构优化与农业经济增长

为实现农业现代化,中国农业能源消费总量不断增加,其中煤炭和柴油消费占50%以上。农业生产依赖化石能源,已经对资源和环境产生负面影响。改善和优化农业能源消费结构,实现低碳、环保和可持续发展,是中国农业现代化发展的必然选择。文章基于VAR模型,使用1996—2016年中国农业能源消费和农业经济增长数据,分析了能源消费结构优化对农业经济增长的作用机理。在农业生产中,通过减少使用化石能源、增加使用清洁能源、优化能源消费结构,促进农业产出增长,实现可持续发展。     

辽宁省大气环境污染水平与经济发展研究

选取了辽宁省1998～2010年工业废气排放量、工业和生活二氧化硫排放量、工业和生活烟尘排放量、工业粉尘排放量以及辽宁省的GDP结构、人口、能源消耗等环境经济数据,建立经济增长与大气环境污染水平关系的计量模型,即辽宁省环境库兹涅茨曲线( EKC),分析辽宁省近年来经济发展与大气环境污染之间的关系,从宏观上揭示环境库兹涅茨曲线的变化特征及其原因,结果表明,辽宁省环境库兹涅茨曲线特征与工业结构变化、能源消费结构、环境保护投资等有显著相关性.     

临洮县农业生态经济系统能值分析

采用能值分析法对2008年临洮县农业生态经济系统投入产出状况、运行效率和环境负载进行了系统分析。结果表明,2008年临洮县农业生态经济系统投入能值1.24×1021 sej,产出能值1.32×1021 sej,净能值产出率1.18%,环境负载率6.10%,可持续发展指数为0.191.00,属于不可持续的农业生态经济系统。     

山东省能源消费、环境污染与经济增长的相关性分析

能源消费、环境保护与经济增长是一个有机的整体。笔者以山东省为例,利用灰色关联分析分别进行产业结构对经济增长、工业发展对能源消费和环境污染的综合分析,并提出符合山东省基本情况的多项发展决策机制。     

不同果园管理模式下系统能值分析

能值分析方法能将不同质的能量和物质转换为同一标准的太阳能值,是当前进行系统能量研究和可持续发展评估的一种重要方法。本文应用能值分析方法对3种管理模式下果园生态系统进行分析,结果表明系统总能值投入中所占比例最大的均为外界购买能值,占总投入的66．3％～73．9％,其中人力和肥料投入最大;自然资源投入方面以阳光投入所占比重最大。与其他两种模式相比,平台生草模式下果园生态系统的环境负载率最低,可持续发展指数最高。