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ARS Home » Plains Area » Bushland, Texas » Conservation and Production Research Laboratory » Soil and Water Management Research » Research » Publications at this Location » Publication #284284
Title: Ethanol production in the Southern High Plains of Texas: Impacts on the economy and scarce water resources

Author
item GUERRERO, BRIDGET - Texas Agrilife Extension
item JOHNSON, JEFF - Texas Agrilife Extension
item AMOSSON, STEVE - Texas Agrilife Extension
item JOHNSON, PHIL - Texas Agrilife Extension
item SEGARRA, EDUARDO - Texas Agrilife Extension
item SURLES, JAMES - Texas Tech University

Submitted to: The Journal of Regional Analysis & Policy
Publication Type: Peer Reviewed Journal
Publication Acceptance Date: 5/7/2011
Publication Date: 8/1/2011
Citation: Guerrero, B., Johnson, J., Amosson, S., Johnson, P., Segarra, E., Surles, J. 2011. Ethanol production in the Southern High Plains of Texas: Impacts on the economy and scarce water resources. The Journal of Regional Analysis & Policy. 41(1):22-32.

Interpretive Summary:

Technical Abstract: The establishment of new biorefineries in an effort to increase energy security in the United States has generated positive impacts by creating jobs and generating economic output. However, communities and local and state leaders are concerned about whether ethanol production is an effective use of limited water resources. Input-output analysis is used to determine if locating ethanol plants in the Southern High Plains of Texas is an effective use of water resources relative to current irrigated crop production in terms of socioeconomic impacts. Results indicate ethanol production generates impacts above and beyond that of crop production utilizing an equivalent amount of water.