To view a pdf of the full Initiative Proposal Click Here.

Over the past 100 years, petroleum has been one of the best deals going: it is relatively inexpensive to extract and easy to store, has a high energy content, and can be transported through a well-established infrastructure. In the 20^th Century, petroleum was so economic and convenient that the automobile industry used it almost exclusively as a fuel source. Entering the 21^st Century, however, it is clear that economic and geopolitical pressures will negate the core benefits of petroleum unless it can be balanced with a broader portfolio of alternative fuels. CECA believes that the optimal fuel mix of the 21^st Century will include a broad collection of fuels produced from renewable resources, the recycling of waste streams, more efficient use of domestic resources, and the development of creative new technologies. CECA anticipates that these fuels will eventually overtake petroleum for residential energy and transportation fuels. For that reason CECA refers to these resources as “21^st Century Fuels.”

Until recently, limited technologies and high production costs prevented the development of widespread markets for non-petroleum fuels. In the last few years, however, the situation has changed dramatically. The digital age has brought new ideas and technologies that demonstrate the promise of 21^st Century Fuels. Obstacles still exist blocking the full adoption of new fuels.

To address these obstacles, CECA proposes to launch the 21^st Century Fuels Initiative. This Initiative will consist of two broad-based consensus-building forums composed of energy and fuels experts, policymakers and thought leaders, with the expressed goal of focusing upon ways to remove barriers and expand the use of 21^st Century Fuels. The 21^st Century Fuels Initiative will evaluate (but not be limited to) the following fuels and technologies:

• Ethanol (including corn-based, cellulose-derived, and other production methods),
• Methanol,
• Biodiesel,
• Hydrogen,
• Methane,
• P-Series, and
• Coal gasification (e.g., Fischer-Tropsch).

The Initiative will consist of two separate forums. The first will focus on stationary applications and the second on transportation applications. Each forum will include a research and policy development phase and an outreach phase. The 21^st Century Fuels Initiative Stationary Fuels Forum will examine fuels primarily used for stationary purposes, i.e., residential heating, distributed generation, and combined heat and power applications (CHP). The 21^st Century Fuels Initiative Transportation Fuels Forum will examine fuels used in the transportation sector. The overarching goal of both Forums will be to develop fair, balanced, and clear policy options and recommendations.