Current Status and Future Outlook for Biofuels

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Dr. Wally TynerEnergy Economist
Purdue University
wtyner@purdue.edu


Professor Tyner is an energy economist with the Department of Agricultural Economics, Purdue University. He received his B.S. degree in chemistry (1966) from Texas Christian University, and his M.A. (1972) and Ph.D. (1977) degrees in economics from the University of Maryland. Professor Tyner’s research interests are in the area of energy, agriculture, and natural resource policy analysis and structural and sectoral adjustment in developing economies. He has over 200 professional papers in these areas including three books and 70+ refereed papers and abstracts. His past work in energy economics has encompassed oil, natural gas, coal, oil shale, biomass, ethanol from agricultural sources, and solar energy. His current research focuses on renewable energy policy issues. He teaches a graduate course in benefit-cost analysis, which incorporates risk into the economic and financial analysis of investment projects. In 4 of the past 5 years, his students have received the department’s outstanding thesis award. In 2005, he received the “Distinguished Policy Contribution” award from his professional association. In June 2007, Senator Richard G. Lugar of Indiana named Tyner an “Energy Patriot” for his work on energy policy analysis. In 2009 he received the Purdue College of Agriculture Outstanding Graduate Educator award and was part of a group that received the Team award for multidisciplinary research on biofuels.