Researching Life Cycle Analysis Frameworks to Assess Biogenic Greenhouse Gas Emissions at the HPUC
Stephanie Unur, Environmental Systems Engineering ‘24, Sustainability Science & Practice ‘25
Graduate Fellow, Office of Policy and Research, Hawai'i Public Utilities Commission
This summer, I’m working with the Hawai’i Public Utilities Commission’s Office of Policy and Research (HPUC - OPR). As my second summer spent on O’ahu, I am excited to not only be able to spend time on one of the world’s most beautiful islands, but more importantly to be able to conduct meaningful work that I feel passionate about.
The PUC strives to serve the public by ensuring essential utility services are delivered to consumers in a safe, reliable, economical, and environmentally sound manner, which is achieved through responsible and informed oversight of public utilities while working collaboratively with customers, stakeholders, and the general public.
Within the OPR, I’ve been focusing on one central research question: what are the leading lifecycle analysis frameworks for assessing biogenic greenhouse gas emissions? To begin answering this, I’ve been conducting scientific literature review and reading reports, datasets, and papers from government organizations like the EPA and NREL.
This topic is growing in relevance due to biofuel’s leverage as a “renewable” yet combustible fuel, adaptable to Hawaii’s many fuel fossil-based power plants yet holding the advantage of emitting far less emissions than petroleum. The specificity of “less emissions” however is a question that has been challenging scientists for decades due to the plethora of feedstock options for biofuels. From municipal solid waste to cooking oil to forest-derived wood, every feedstock’s growth, transportation, refinement, and production hold different impacts on emissions.
Estimating these emissions to the most accurate extent possible is necessary to assess its sustainability and adherence to federal and state regulations. By having set frameworks for feedstock types, the HPUC can properly assess the emissions of new power plant proposals with a biofuel component as well as existing ones.
I’ve been working closely with my chief mentor, Clarice, and the rest of the team in a hybrid format. My typical day consists of independent remote research and meetings, aside from Wednesdays, where I go into the office at 9am and have a check-in meeting with Clarice to discuss my progress and any questions I may have. I usually then make myself a cup of iced coffee and get into my typical routine of reading, synthesizing, and writing. At 1, I’ll walk downtown to get lunch, where there’s a plethora of options from delicious poke to udon to locally sourced Kona coffee. Then, I’ll get back to work before I clock out at 5.
1 "Lifecycle Analysis of Greenhouse Gas Emissions under the Renewable Fuel Standard”, Environmental Protection Agency, https://www.epa.gov/renewable-fuel-standard-program/lifecycle-analysis-greenhouse-gas-emissions-under-renewabl e-fuel#prod_transportation.
2 U.S. Environmental Protection Agency. "Lifecycle Greenhouse Gas Results." EPA, February 27, 2024, https://www.epa.gov/fuels-registration-reporting-and-compliance-help/lifecycle-greenhouse-gas-results.
