Protecting water resources in biofuels production Ray Huffaker School of Economic Sciences, Washington State University, Pullman, WA 99164-6210, USA. Tel: þ 1-509-335-3048, Fax: þ 1-509-335-1173. E-mail: huffaker@wsu.edu Abstract The Energy Independence and Security Act of 2007 mandates a five-fold increase in current biofuels production. This will substantially increase the current production of corn-based ethanol despite widespread concerns over its negative impact on the availability and quality of already stressed water resources. The National Academy of Sciences’ (NAS) recently-released report on water use in biofuels production (principally corn-based ethanol) proposes improved on-farm irrigation efficiency and water recycling within biorefineries to reduce the impact on water availability. In a classic case of unintended consequences, we demonstrate that these measures may decrease the sustainability of biofuels production by increasingly stressing water supplies. Instead, these measures may be more effective in reducing the water quality impact of biofuels production—a role that the NAS report does not emphasize. Keywords: Biofuel production; Irrigation efficiency; Water conservation 1. Introduction Some policymakers have enthusiastically touted biofuels as a sustainable partial-remedy for high oil prices, energy dependence on foreign oil, global warming and rural economic decay. The USA’s Energy Independence and Security Act of 2007 (EISA) mandates 36 billion gallons of biofuels by 2022 (42 USCS §7545(o)(2)(B)(i)(I)). This constitutes a five-fold increase over current biofuel production and approximately 20% of current motor fuel use. The mandate envisions eventual substitution of advanced cellulosic biofuels for currently produced corn-based ethanol. In the meantime, it doubles the use of corn-based ethanol despite widespread concerns about increased food prices, unsustainable mining of scarce water resources and increased nutrient pollution of aquatic ecosystems (Mufson, 2007). The National Academy of Sciences (NAS) recently investigated the impact of biofuels production on water availability and quality and identified “agricultural practices and technologies” to reduce negative impacts (National Research Council, 2007). The NAS report focuses on corn-based ethanol. At present, cellulosic ethanol is not produced commercially and the water demands of cellulosic crops (e.g. native grasses) under various cultural practices are uncertain. doi: 10.2166/wp.2009.113 Water Policy 12 (2010) 129–134 q IWA Publishing 2010 Downloaded from https://iwaponline.com/wp/article-pdf/12/1/129/406803/129.pdf by guest on 30 November 2018