Conclusion
After a thorough initial assessment, we have concluded that Ensyn’s renewable fuel oil is a viable and promising alternative to using a combination of natural gas and fuel oil No. 2 in the college’s steam plant. As discussed in the technical and economic sections of this report, RFO provides a value-for-money unmatched by the natural gas or biomass gasification alternatives, as the fuel can drastically reduce greenhouse gas emissions at a moderate upfront cost required for infrastructure changes. Because the project boasts large GHG emission reductions, it could be an important step in matching the efforts of Lafayette’s peer institutions, including Middlebury College and Bates College.
However, as with any project there are significant risks to each alternative. More specifically, we have identified considerable political risks associated with implementing and operating with renewable fuel oil. The economic viability of RFOs relies heavily on the value of Renewable Identification Numbers, which are a part of the Energy Policy Act of 2005. While it is impossible to predict the long term viability of this federal program, the current course of deregulating environmental restrictions and decreasing funding for environmental programs is certainly troubling.
When deciding the future path for projects, including ones that bring biogenic fuels to campus, key decision makers like the Lafayette College Board of Trustees and the Office of Sustainability should make a comprehensive assessment by considering the economic, technical, social, and political context of each alternative. While this report has highlighted the importance of looking at a traditionally technical problem from many different contexts, further research must be done. Based on our findings, we recommend that future projects further investigate the future of Renewable Identification Numbers and other supportive environmental policy. Additionally, to better understand the impact the college’s operations could have on the planet, a full lifecycle analysis of the biomass gasification and renewable fuel oil alternatives should be completed.
Ultimately, this report provides a basic justification for further pursuing Enysn’s Renewable Fuel Oil. Because this alternative provides substantial greenhouse gas emission reduction with only a moderate investment, Ensyn’s RFO has promising potential for playing a large role in Lafayette College’s Climate Action Plan. This analysis would not have been possible with the support of the Lafayette College Office of Sustainability and The Stone House Group.
To view our bibliography, click here: Bibliography (Biogenics)