Ethanol production in the southern high plains of texas: Impacts on the economy and scarce water resources Academic Article uri icon

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 effec-tive use of water resources relative to current irrigated crop production in terms of socioeco-nomic impacts. Results indicate ethanol production generates impacts above and beyond that of crop production utilizing an equivalent amount of water. 2011 MCRSA. All rights reserved.

published proceedings

  • Journal of Regional Analysis and Policy

author list (cited authors)

  • Guerrero, B., Johnson, J., Amosson, S., Johnson, P., Segarra, E., & Surles, J.

complete list of authors

  • Guerrero, B||Johnson, J||Amosson, S||Johnson, P||Segarra, E||Surles, J

publication date

  • January 2011