So i read the report in full.
"Despite the strong environmental tradeoffs under the RFS thus far, biofuels and bioenergy may play a key role in stabilizing atmospheric CO2 concentrations and holding global warming below 1.5 or 2 °C, particularly with continued advancements like carbon capture and storage (
2,
4,
74–
76) and increased productivity from perennial feedstocks grown on marginal lands (
77–
80). However, our findings confirm that contemporary corn ethanol production is unlikely to contribute to climate change mitigation. Given the current US dependence on this fuel, there remains an urgent need to continue the research, development, and shift toward more-advanced renewable fuels, improved transportation efficiency, and electrification (
74,
81–
83).
I get from this that it is important and will play a "Key Role" but it cannot be the only thing we do. We need to be better.
"The United States is currently at a bioenergy crossroads. The RFS specifies biofuel volumes through 2022; absent legislative action, the Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) will determine volumes for subsequent years. If conventional biofuel volumes were to increase, it is likely that further increases in crop prices, LUC, and environmental impacts would ensue."
I get from this statement that we are pretty much at the point where the EPA cannot ask for more and production is pretty much going to have to stay where it's at unless new enforcement is mandated.
The report then goes on to express the overall changes to their testing and assessment modeling.
"Overall, our retrospective and purpose-built integrated assessment modeling framework has several advantages over previous projections and more generalized approaches."
Yes overall the projections were higher but the results still were better than not having it. Yes the ethanol from corn effects negatively water and soil but we knew that and they will continue to improve in these areas.
In the end we have Tyler Lark who is fairly well renowned for his studies at University of Wisconsin saying it's not as good as we hoped but it's still good and getting better.
Other notable contributors-
Nathan P. Hendricks
https://orcid.org/0000-0001-7301-8314
Aaron Smith
https://orcid.org/0000-0001-5768-6304
Nicholas Pates
https://orcid.org/0000-0002-8071-0509
Seth A. Spawn-Lee
https://orcid.org/0000-0001-8821-5345
Matthew Bougie
Eric G. Booth
https://orcid.org/0000-0003-2191-6627
Christopher J. Kucharik
https://orcid.org/0000-0002-0400-758X
Good Report find.