Bioenergy crops on marginal lands: Investigating strategies for remediation, stormwater management and nutrient load reduction

0933249兰迪生物燃料目前从美国的玉米和大豆中提取，分别用于制造乙醇和生物柴油。在实现能源和温室气体节约的同时，出现了几个重要的权衡，包括a)食品价格上涨，b)环境负担转向表现为富营养化和低氧的影响(即墨西哥湾的死亡区)。在边际土地上种植生物燃料可能会缓解这些问题，并可能以土壤修复的形式贡献额外的环境效益。拟议的研究目标是量化在边际土地上种植生物能源作物的好处。在整个项目中，他们将：(I)量化生物燃料作物的现场植物修复，(Ii)评估与生物燃料作物相关的径流，以及(Iii)比较在边际土地上种植的生物燃料与石油燃料和传统生物燃料(即大豆生物柴油、玉米乙醇)对生命周期环境的影响。匹兹堡大学的PIs将与美国铝业公司和当地非营利组织GTECH Strategy合作，形成一个独特的合作伙伴关系。美国铝业公司参与了宾夕法尼亚州马瑟矿址的矿山复垦示范。美国铝业公司正在协助评估使用碱性粘土来辅助回收的情况。GTECH战略公司在空置的城市土地上种植生物燃料作物；他们的使命是通过创造“绿色领子”工作来促进服务不足的社区的社区增长。这个项目不仅对宾夕法尼亚州，而且对整个水资源、水质和生物燃料研究社区来说都是独一无二的。拟议研究的结果将使研究界了解边缘和空置土地替代用途的生命周期环境效益，并将有助于对植物修复的文献和理解。生命周期评估的结果也将有助于LCA关于生物燃料的研究不断增长和高度辩论。拟议的活动将产生广泛的影响，服务于能源生产、暴雨水管理、养分管理、节水、回收和在服务不足的社区创造就业机会。拟议研究的影响从对生物燃料作物的科学研究作出贡献，到通过与全球技术、环境和环境卫生战略合作，促进社区参与和赋权。拟议的项目将通过GTECH的绿色就业团队计划直接帮助增加环境正义社区的就业机会，并将促进GTECH作为一个可持续的非营利性组织的发展。显然，制定可持续生物燃料生产的新战略将有助于解决国家安全问题，并帮助国家达到2010年的国家燃料标准。除了与GTECH合作所固有的外延外，他们还建议继续将不同的学生(通过GTECH的绿色就业团队，包括REU、研究生和高中学生)纳入拟议的研究中。他们还概述了将研究伙伴关系纳入皮特大学可持续发展课程的广泛计划。

0933249LandisBiofuels are currently derived from corn and soybeans in the US to make ethanol and biodiesel, respectively. While energy and greenhouse gas savings are realized, several significant tradeoffs have arisen including a) increase in food prices and b) a shift in environmental burden to impacts manifesting as eutrophication and hypoxia (i.e. the Dead Zone in the Gulf of Mexico). Cultivating biofuels on marginal lands may alleviate these problems and may serve to contribute additional environmental benefits in the form of soil remediation.The goal of the proposed research is to quantify the benefits of growing bioenergy crops on marginal lands. Throughout this project they will: (i) quantify on-site phytoremediation of biofuel crops, (ii) evaluate runoff related to biofuel crops, and (iii) compare the life cycle environmental impacts of biofuels grown on marginal lands to petroleum fuels and traditional biofuels (i.e. soy biodiesel, corn ethanol).The PIs at the University of Pittsburgh will partner with Alcoa Corp and a local nonprofit, GTECH Strategies, to form a unique collaboration. Alcoa Corp is involved in a mine reclamation demonstration at the Mather Mine site in PA. Alcoa is aiding in the evaluation of the use of alkaline clay to assist in reclamation. GTECH Strategies cultivates biofuel crops on vacant urban lands; their mission is to foster community growth in underserved communities through the creation of "egreen collar" jobs.This project is unique not only for Pennsylvania, but for the water resources, water quality, and biofuels research community at large. The findings of the proposed research will inform the research community about the life cycle environmental benefits of alternative uses for marginal and vacant lands, and will also contribute to the literature and understanding of phytoremediation. The findings of the life cycle assessment will also contribute to the ever growing and highly debated body of LCA research on biofuels.The proposed activities will have broad reaching impacts that serve the purpose of energy production, storm water management, nutrient management, water conservation, reclamation, and job creation in underserved communities. The impacts of the proposed research extend from contribution to the scientific study of biofuel crops to community engagement and empowerment through the collaboration with GTECH Strategies. The proposed project will directly aid in the increase of job opportunities in environmental justice communities through GTECHs green job corps program and will foster the growth of GTECH as a sustainable nonprofit. Clearly, the development of new strategies for sustainable biofuel production will aid in addressing national security issues and help the nation meet national 2010 fuel standards. In addition to the outreach inherent in the collaboration with GTECH, they also propose to continue to include a diverse set of students (REU, grad, and high school, via GTECH's green job corps) in the proposed research. They also have outlined an extensive plan for integration of the research partnership into the sustainability curriculum at Pitt.