NREL is a national laboratory of the U.S. Department of Energy

Office of Energy Efficiency & Renewable Energy

Operated by the Alliance for Sustainable Energy, LLC

This report is available at no cost from the National Renewable Energy

Laboratory (NREL) at www.nrel.gov/publications.

Contract No. DE-AC36-08GO28308

Jobs and Economic 

Development Impact (JEDI) User 

Reference Guide: Fast Pyrolysis 

Biorefinery Model

Yimin Zhang

National Renewable Energy Laboratory

Marshall Goldberg

MRG and Associates

Technical Report

NREL/TP-6A20-62548

March 2015
NREL is a national laboratory of the U.S. Department of Energy

Office of Energy Efficiency & Renewable Energy

Operated by the Alliance for Sustainable Energy, LLC

This report is available at no cost from the National Renewable Energy

Laboratory (NREL) at www.nrel.gov/publications.

Contract No. DE-AC36-08GO28308

National Renewable Energy Laboratory

15013 Denver West Parkway

Golden, CO 80401

303-275-3000 • www.nrel.gov

Jobs and Economic 

Development Impact (JEDI) 

User Reference Guide: Fast 

Pyrolysis Biorefinery Model

Yimin Zhang

National Renewable Energy Laboratory

Marshall Goldberg

MRG and Associates

Prepared under Task No. BB14.4210

Technical Report

NREL/TP-6A20-62548

March 2015
NOTICE

This report was prepared as an account of work sponsored by an agency of the United States government. 

Neither the United States government nor any agency thereof, nor any of their employees, makes any warranty, 

express or implied, or assumes any legal liability or responsibility for the accuracy, completeness, or usefulness of 

any information, apparatus, product, or process disclosed, or represents that its use would not infringe privately 

owned rights. Reference herein to any specific commercial product, process, or service by trade name, 

trademark, manufacturer, or otherwise does not necessarily constitute or imply its endorsement, recommendation, 

or favoring by the United States government or any agency thereof. The views and opinions of authors 

expressed herein do not necessarily state or reflect those of the United States government or any agency thereof.

This report is available at no cost from the National Renewable Energy

Laboratory (NREL) at www.nrel.gov/publications.

Available electronically at http://www.osti.gov/scitech

Available for a processing fee to U.S. Department of Energy

and its contractors, in paper, from:

U.S. Department of Energy

Office of Scientific and Technical Information

P.O. Box 62

Oak Ridge, TN 37831-0062

phone: 865.576.8401

fax: 865.576.5728

email: mailto:reports@adonis.osti.gov

Available for sale to the public, in paper, from:

U.S. Department of Commerce

National Technical Information Service

5285 Port Royal Road

Springfield, VA 22161

phone: 800.553.6847

fax: 703.605.6900

email: orders@ntis.fedworld.gov

online ordering: http://www.ntis.gov/help/ordermethods.aspx

Cover Photos: (left to right) photo by Pat Corkery, NREL 16416, photo from SunEdison, NREL 17423, photo by Pat Corkery, NREL 

16560, photo by Dennis Schroeder, NREL 17613, photo by Dean Armstrong, NREL 17436, photo by Pat Corkery, NREL 17721.

NREL prints on paper that contains recycled content.
iii

This report is available at no cost from the National Renewable Energy Laboratory (NREL) at www.nrel.gov/publications.

Executive Summary

The Jobs and Economic Development Impact (JEDI) models, developed through the National 

Renewable Energy Laboratory (NREL), are user-friendly tools that can be used to estimate the

local economic impacts of constructing and operating a fuel and power generation project for a 

range of conventional and renewable energy technologies. This guide -the JEDI Fast Pyrolysis 

Biorefinery Model User Reference Guide - was developed to assist users in operating and 

understanding the JEDI Fast Pyrolysis Biorefinery Model. The guide provides information on the 

model’s underlying methodology, as well as the parameters and data sources used to develop the 

cost data utilized in the model. This guide also provides basic instruction on model add-in 

features and a discussion of how the results should be interpreted.

Based on project-specific inputs from the user, the JEDI Fast Pyrolysis Biorefinery Model 

estimates local (e.g., county- or state-level) job creation, earnings, and output from total 

economic activity for a given fast pyrolysis biorefinery. These estimates include the direct,

indirect and induced economic impacts to the local economy associated with the construction 

and operation phases of biorefinery projects. Project cost and job data used in the model were 

derived from the current cost estimations in a design case developed by Pacific Northwest 

National Laboratory (PNNL) and NREL (Jones et al. 2013). Local revenue and supply chain 

impacts as well as induced impacts are estimated using economic multipliers derived from the 

IMPLAN software program. By determining the local economic impacts and job creation for a 

proposed biorefinery, the JEDI Fast Pyrolysis Biorefinery Model can be used to field questions 

about the added value biorefineries might bring to a local community. 

It is important to note that economic impacts estimated by JEDI - including job creation- are 

estimates for constructing and operating a hypothetical biorefinery using the fast pyrolysis 

pathway described in Jones et al. (2013); they should not be interpreted as precise values. It is 

also worth noting that estimates from the JEDI Fast Pyrolysis Model represent gross economic 

impacts. The model does not take into account market-driven feedback effects, and it is not 

meant to estimate the net economic impacts of a biorefinery project. 
iv

This report is available at no cost from the National Renewable Energy Laboratory (NREL) at www.nrel.gov/publications.

List of Acronyms

BETO Bioenergy Technologies Office

DOE U.S. Department of Energy

FTE Full-time equivalent

gpm gallons per minute 

GNP Gross National Product

INL Idaho National Laboratory

JEDI Jobs and Economic Development Impact Model

NREL National Renewable Energy Laboratory

PNNL Pacific Northwest National Laboratory
v

This report is available at no cost from the National Renewable Energy Laboratory (NREL) at www.nrel.gov/publications.

Table of Contents

Executive Summary................................................................................................................................... iii

List of Acronyms........................................................................................................................................ iv

Table of Contents........................................................................................................................................ v

1 Introduction........................................................................................................................................... 1

2 Model Overview .................................................................................................................................... 2

3 Inputting Data and Running the Model............................................................................................... 4

3.1 Getting Started............................................................................................................................... 4

3.2 Entering Model Inputs................................................................................................................... 5

3.3 Viewing and Saving Results ......................................................................................................... 6

3.4 Accessing and Viewing Model Work Areas................................................................................. 7

4 Interpreting the Results ....................................................................................................................... 8

4.1 Economic Impacts and Job Creation............................................................................................. 8

4.2 Comparing Results Among JEDI Models for Different Technologies ......................................... 8

4.3 Caveats.......................................................................................................................................... 9

5 User Add-in Location Feature ........................................................................................................... 10

6 Data Sources and Cost Categories .................................................................................................. 12

6.1 Feedstock Rate ............................................................................................................................ 12

6.2 Production ................................................................................................................................... 12

6.3 On-stream Factor......................................................................................................................... 13

6.4 Feedstock Costs and Specifications ............................................................................................ 13

6.5 Construction and Operations and Maintenance Costs................................................................. 15

6.5.1 Site Development Costs................................................................................................. 15

6.5.2 Process Unit Costs.......................................................................................................... 16

6.5.3 Infrastructure Costs........................................................................................................ 16

6.5.4 Labor Costs .................................................................................................................... 16

6.5.5 Other Costs..................................................................................................................... 17

6.5.6 Sales Tax ........................................................................................................................ 18

6.5.7 Annual Operation and Maintenance Costs..................................................................... 18

6.5.7.1 Fixed Costs................................................................................................................................................... 18

6.5.7.2 Variable Costs .............................................................................................................................................. 20

6.6 Local Share.................................................................................................................................. 21

7 Concluding Notes............................................................................................................................... 23

References................................................................................................................................................. 24
1

This report is available at no cost from the National Renewable Energy Laboratory (NREL) at www.nrel.gov/publications.

1 Introduction

The Jobs and Economic Development Impact (JEDI) Fast Pyrolysis Biorefinery Model (hereafter 

referred to as “the model”) is designed to demonstrate the economic impacts associated with 

developing and operating a stand-alone biorefinery via fast pyrolysis followed by 

hydroprocessing of the condensed pyrolysis oil to infrastructure-compatible transportation fuels 

(gasoline blendstock and diesel blendstock) (Jones et al. 2013) in the United States. The model is 

primarily intended to provide a tool for biorefinery investors and developers, decision makers, 

policymakers, researchers, and others to identify and understand the potential local economic 

impacts associated with constructing and operating biorefineries that employ the fast pyrolysis 

technology pathway. The model allows users to quickly analyze the gross economic impacts and 

job creation potential of biorefinery construction and ongoing annual operations. The economic 

impacts are categorized into project development and onsite labor impacts, local revenue and 

supply chain impacts, and induced impacts, as defined in Section 2. The model does not take into 

account other market-driven feedback effects. For this reason, the model is not meant to estimate 

net economic effects of a specific biorefinery project. 

This guide describes the general use of the model, details how to interpret output summaries, and 

outlines technical assumptions and cost inputs used within the model as the default values. While 

the data incorporates significant uncertainties, in part due to many assumptions used to develop 

default values, we believe the information presented in the model represents the most detailed 

and current information available at this time. For questions regarding the JEDI models or model 

updates, please refer to the Jobs and Economic Development (JEDI) Models home page at 

http://www.nrel.gov/analysis/jedi/.

Strong emphasis was placed on designing the model in a user-friendly format that can be easily 

modified based on different levels of availability of project-specific information and users’ skills. 

This format ensures the greatest flexibility for inexperienced users of JEDI models, those 

unfamiliar with economic impact analysis, as well as more experienced and knowledgeable users 

who need this specific type of analysis. 
2

This report is available at no cost from the National Renewable Energy Laboratory (NREL) at www.nrel.gov/publications.

2 Model Overview

The model offers users the capability to analyze the economic impacts of a fast pyrolysis 

biorefinery based on the plant’s feedstock rate and production capacity. Given basic information 

about a fast pyrolysis biorefinery project (minimally, the state in which it is located, the 

feedstock rate and the production capacity), users can estimate project capital and operating 

expenditures as well as the number of jobs, income (wages and salary), and economic activity 

that will accrue locally1 from the project. To evaluate these impacts, input-output analysis, also 

commonly referred to as multiplier analysis, is used. 

In economics, an input–output model, originally developed by Leontief (1986), is a quantitative 

economic technique that represents the interdependencies of different branches of a national 

economy or different regional economies. The structure of the input–output model has been 

incorporated into national accounting in many developed countries (e.g., United States, and

France), and has been used to calculate important measures such as national GDP. Input-output 

analysis can be thought of as a method of evaluating and summing the impacts of a series of 

effects generated by an expenditure (i.e., an input). For example, equipment purchases made by a 

new biorefinery result in increases in output from metal industries, equipment manufacturers,

and other industries. The impacts that are ultimately supported by expenditures of a biorefinery

depend upon the extent to which those expenditures are spent locally and the structure of the 

local economy. Consistent with local spending patterns and economic structure, different 

expenditures support different levels of employment, income, earnings, and output.

To determine the total effect of developing a biorefinery, three separate impacts are examined for 

each expenditure. Often these effects are referred to as project development and on-site labor 

impacts (or direct impacts), local revenue and supply chain impacts (or indirect impacts), and 

induced effects.

• Project development and on-site labor impacts (or direct impacts) refer to the on-site 

or immediate effects created by an expenditure. For example, during construction of a 

biorefinery, these impacts refer to the on-site contractors and crews hired to construct the 

plant. 

• Local revenue and supply chain impacts (or indirect impacts) are the economic 

activities resulting from expenditures by the project to receive outside products or 

services. For example, these impacts include the impacts brought about by the bankers 

who finance the project, and the steel mills and electrical manufacturers that provide the 

necessary materials to the biorefinery. The indirect economic effect would also apply to 

the manufacturing of equipment (e.g., vessels, tanks, and heat exchangers) used in the 

biorefinery. 

• Induced impacts refer to the effects driven by spending of household earnings by direct 

and indirect beneficiaries. Induced results are often associated with increased business at 

local restaurants, hotels, and retail establishments, but also include childcare providers, 

 1 Although the model is designed to provide state or national-level analysis, it includes a “User Add-in Location” 

feature that allows users to import specific county or region-level multipliers and personal expenditure patterns to 

localize an analysis to a smaller or larger region than the state level. For details about this procedure, refer to Section 

5. 
3

This report is available at no cost from the National Renewable Energy Laboratory (NREL) at www.nrel.gov/publications.

service providers and any other entity affected by increased economic activity and 

spending occurring at the first two tiers (i.e., direct and indirect impacts). 

The sum of these three effects yields the gross economic effect that results from a single 

expenditure. No other market-driven feedback effects are taken into account in the model. For 

this reason, the model is not meant to estimate net economic effects from a specific project. 

To accomplish an analysis, economic sectors, whose products/services are demanded by the 

biorefinery (during construction as well as ongoing operations), were identified for each 

expenditure, and the appropriate local (e.g., state-level) multipliers were derived for use in

constructing the JEDI model.

2 For example, the state-by-state multipliers for employment, 

earnings (wage and salary), output (economic activity), and personal expenditure patterns were 

derived from the IMPLAN Professional model Version 3.0 (IMPLAN 2014) using IMPLAN 

state data3. The initial version of the model relies on multipliers for the year 2012 for interindustry relationships and personal consumption patterns. When the project data costs are 

reported in a dollar year other than the year of the multipliers, such as the default cost data in the 

model, which is reported in year 2011 dollars, the model automatically adjusts (i.e., inflates or 

deflates as appropriate) the costs during the internal calculations to insure costs are consistent

with the multipliers.4 The model results (i.e., for earnings and output) are then automatically 

readjusted (deflated or inflated) and reported in the same year dollars as the project data costs.

To accommodate the variability in user skill level and availability of project-specific

information, the model uses default values representative of a “typical” stand-alone fast pyrolysis

biorefinery project that can be changed by the user. The default values represent a reasonable 

expenditure pattern for constructing and operating a fast pyrolysis biorefinery in the United 

States based on the design case described in Jones et al. (2013) (a target for 2017) because there 

is no commercial-scale biorefinery using this technology pathway currently operating in the 

United States. Admittedly, given the complexity and number of variables associated with 

constructing and operating biorefineries, it is likely very few projects will follow this exact 

“default” pattern for expenditures. Many factors influence the installation and operating costs, 

including: the type(s) of feedstock used, feedstock rate, production capacity, on-stream factor5

,

project location, environmental regulations, financing arrangements, and numerous site-specific 

factors. Similarly, the availability of local resources, including labor and materials, and the 

availability of locally manufactured components can significantly affect the costs and the 

economic impacts that accrue to the state or local region. If the user has and can incorporate 

project-specific data and the share of spending that is expected to occur locally, the impact 

analysis will be more localized.

 2 Multipliers quantify the total production requirements of all industries within a study area necessary to meet 

industry and household demands resulting from consumption of goods and services from a specified industry.

3

 The initial version of the JEDI Biorefinery Model contains multipliers and personal expenditure patterns for 2012, 

the most current year available at the time the model was released for public use. Default multipliers and 

expenditure patterns are updated approximately every two years. 4 Inflators and deflators utilized in the model are derived from “Table 10.1 - Gross Domestic Product and Deflators 

Used in the Historical Tables 1940-2017” in Budget of the United States (U.S. GPO 2013). Deflators for 2016-2031 

assume an average annual inflation rate of 2.0%. 5 On-stream factor refers to the amount of time the plant is actually on-line and operating during the year.
4

This report is available at no cost from the National Renewable Energy Laboratory (NREL) at www.nrel.gov/publications.

3 Inputting Data and Running the Model

The model is designed for all levels of users, requiring minimal experience with biorefineries 

and background in economic modeling. It includes online instructions explaining how to enter

data for analysis as well as informative “comments” that help users understand the type of data 

required in specific cells. A comment can be viewed by pointing the cursor to the triangle located 

in the corner of the spreadsheet cell. 

The model formulas and default data are locked and protected and user-modified data apply to

only the specific analysis a user performs while the model is open. If unwanted changes are 

made, click on the “Restore Default Values” button on the Project Data page or simply close the 

model and reopen it to start over with the initial model default values.

3.1 Getting Started

The model is an Excel-based model. To begin using it, simply open the Biorefinery JEDI Excel

file.

6 The JEDI Model opens to the “Start” tab, which briefly explains the model’s applications

and outlines the required steps to complete an economic impact analysis (see Figure 1):

• To learn more about the model version and a brief background on the development of the 

model, click on the “About JEDI” tab. 

• To begin a JEDI analysis, either click on the “Start Economic Impact Analysis” button on 

the “Start” tab (Figure 1) or go to the “Project Data” tab.

 6 The JEDI model utilizes macros to assist users with navigating throughout the spreadsheet and between 

worksheets, and to perform specific tasks using control buttons. Depending upon your computer’s security settings, 

upon opening the model, you may be prompted to “enable macros” to allow you to use the control buttons. If you 

choose not to, the model will still function and provide analytical results, but the buttons will not function.
5

This report is available at no cost from the National Renewable Energy Laboratory (NREL) at www.nrel.gov/publications.

Figure 1. Starting page of the JEDI Fast Pyrolysis Biorefinery Model.

3.2 Entering Model Inputs

To accommodate a broad user base with a wide range of knowledge about biorefinery projects, 

two input options are available: a “simple” and “advanced” input option. Using either option, a 

user can choose the number and detail of user inputs accessible in the model (see Figure 2):

• Simple Input Option: For users with little or no experience with biorefineries or 

economic impact analysis, the simple option requires minimal inputs such as the state in 

which the biorefinery will be located, the year in which construction starts, feedstock 

input rate, and production capacity. If additional information about a specific biorefinery

project − such as the on-stream factor, feedstock type(s) and local availability, and 

delivered feedstock prices − is available, users are allowed to enter the details as well. 

Because such details significantly impact the costs of developing and/or operating a 

biorefinery, the user is encouraged to enter as much detail as possible about the project. 

• Advanced Input Option: An advanced input option is available for users with more 

experience and knowledge of a specific biorefinery project allowing them to provide 

additional project details. The primary difference between the simple model and 

advanced input options involves the user’s ability to edit detailed model input data. The 

simple model uses a set of cost estimates based on the design case documented in Jones 

et al. (2013) and does not allow changes to any of the detailed default cost data. The 

advanced option allows the user to override default inputs for all equipment and cost 

components of the biorefinery development. 
6

This report is available at no cost from the National Renewable Energy Laboratory (NREL) at www.nrel.gov/publications.

Figure 2. Project Data page of the model.

Model updates are incorporated in the analysis instantaneously as the user inputs are entered. 

Once project descriptive data input is complete, the user can go to the “Summary Results” page 

to view the results of the analysis by clicking on the “Go To Summary Impacts” button. The 

model calculates the total project cost and estimates the number of jobs and other economic 

impacts supported throughout the construction/development and annual operating phase. The 

model estimates only the impacts that accrue to the state or defined region being analyzed. These 

economic impacts and job creation values are estimates for constructing and operating a 

hypothetical biorefinery; they should not be interpreted as precise values. 

3.3 Viewing and Saving Results

Once the analysis is complete, users have several options for saving the data and results. If a hard 

copy is desired, users can click on “Print Project Data Summary and Summary Results” to print 

the summary data and results contained on the summary page, or click on “Print Detailed Project 

Data” to print a detailed version of all cost and expenditure data used in the analysis (see Figure 

3). Alternately, users can export the data and results to a separate Excel file by clicking the 

“Export” button. Users that wish to save the entire model (with the user-modified data) for future 

use or reference should choose “Save As” from the Excel menu, rename the model, and choose a 

directory. Changing the file name ensures the original model (with model defaults) is kept intact 

for future analysis. Users always have the option to simply “select” and “copy” any desired cells 

to another spreadsheet or document.
7

This report is available at no cost from the National Renewable Energy Laboratory (NREL) at www.nrel.gov/publications.

Figure 3. Project data summary and summary of local economic impacts7 from a model run for an 

Iowa biorefinery.

3.4 Accessing and Viewing Model Work Areas 

To help ensure the JEDI model is as user-friendly as possible and to adhere to strict licensing 

restrictions on proprietary data contained in the model, several of the intermediate work areas 

have been hidden from view. These areas include: default data, calculations, deflators, household 

expenditures, multipliers and the specific cost calculation work areas. If desired, all intermediate 

work areas, with the exception of the multipliers and household expenditures (derived from 

IMPLAN), can be viewed by clicking on the respective worksheet and scrolling to the right. 

Viewing the worksheets will not affect the operation of the model. Please note: The data and 

formulas contained in all work areas are locked and protected (except those specifically 

designed to accept user input) and should not be modified. Modifying any of the data or formulas 

could seriously impact the accuracy or usability of the model.

 7 Due to continuous updates and improvements to the JEDI model, it may not be possible to exactly reproduce the 

results of the model run shown here.
8

This report is available at no cost from the National Renewable Energy Laboratory (NREL) at www.nrel.gov/publications.

4 Interpreting the Results

Regardless of whether or not project-specific data is entered by the users, JEDI provides 

sufficient information to help users better understand the magnitude of the economic impacts 

associated with the project being analyzed. The model results summarize basic project 

information such as the magnitude of the construction-related spending and ongoing annual 

O&M expenditures. The model results also identify the portion of the construction spending that 

occurs locally (determined by the “local share” values—default or user-modified—used in the 

model for each of the expenditures). Similarly, the model results show local spending on debt 

and equity payments, and property and sales tax if applicable. 

4.1 Economic Impacts and Job Creation

In addition to the basic project information and costs, the model analyzes and reports the local 

jobs, earnings and output (economic activity) supported as a result of the project for the 

construction phase and for the ongoing operations phase. For the construction phase, the impacts 

are broken out by project development and on-site labor impacts, including construction labor 

and construction related services, local revenue and supply chain impacts, and induced impacts.

For example, users interested in understanding the job and economic impacts from developing a 

biorefinery with an annual capacity of 60.6 million gallons of transportation fuels (28.9 million 

gallons of gasoline blendstock and 31.7 million gallons of diesel blendstock) per year in Iowa,

built in the year 2015, can quickly obtain the results by using the JEDI model. The feedstocks 

included in the JEDI model are pulpwood, logging residues, switchgrass, and a subset of 

construction and demolish waste. For example, Figure 3 shows a jobs and economic impact 

summary for a 60.6 million gallon refinery (simple model option) constructed in 2015 in Iowa. 

The results indicate that during the construction period (36 months), the project supports 3,156 

direct full-time equivalent (FTE)8 jobs (associated with project development and all onsite field 

services), and 1,172 indirect FTE jobs (associated with local revenue and supply chain) 

throughout the state of Iowa. In addition, the construction of the project is expected to generate

1,218 induced FTE jobs due to the increased economic activities and demands by direct and 

indirect workers. In all, project construction is estimated to generate over $417 million in total 

earnings and $762 million in total economic activity (both in 2011 dollars).

Once the biorefinery is up and running, 83 full-time plant operations and maintenance jobs (or 

direct jobs) are estimated to be supported by the annual operation over the entire economic life of 

the facility [30 years per the design case by Jones et al. (2013)]. 132 indirect jobs are expected to 

be supported through local revenue and supply chain activity and additional 76 induced jobs are 

supported through induced impacts. A total of 291 FTE jobs are estimated to be supported 

annually by the biorefinery during the 30 year economic life of the facility. 

4.2 Comparing Results Among JEDI Models for Different 

Technologies

The suite of JEDI models can be used to compare job and economic impacts of constructing and 

operating several transportation fuel refineries, including dry mills, which produce ethanol from 

 8 Job calculations are based on a full time equivalent (FTE) basis for a year. One FTE job = 2080 hours worked in a 

year by one person full time or several persons part-time.
9

This report is available at no cost from the National Renewable Energy Laboratory (NREL) at www.nrel.gov/publications.

corn, cellulosic ethanol biorefineries using biochemical or thermochemical technology pathways, 

and petroleum refineries, which produce conventional diesel and gasoline. 

When comparing the economic development impacts for different technologies using their 

respective JEDI models (e.g., JEDI Corn Ethanol Model and JEDI Petroleum Refinery Model), it 

is best to compare between facilities with equivalent production capabilities (e.g., annual 

production capacity) rather than merely comparing two facilities. For example, it is more 

reasonable to compare jobs per million gallons of gasoline equivalent for final products from 

either a petroleum refinery or a biorefinery, rather than jobs per refinery. 

4.3 Caveats

Several important caveats should be noted at this point. First, the intent of the JEDI Fast 

Pyrolysis Biorefinery Model is to provide a reasonable profile of expenditures associated with

the construction and operation of a biorefinery and demonstrate the magnitude of the gross 

economic impacts9 that would likely result, assuming a project occurs during the stated period of 

analysis. Given the unique nature of each biorefinery and the changing nature of the industry, the 

cost data used in the model is not intended to replace project-specific engineering estimates. 

Consistent with this approach, the analysis is not intended to provide a precise forecast of 

expected impacts. Rather, the analysis should be viewed as an estimate of the overall magnitude 

of the impacts.

Second, the JEDI Fast Pyrolysis Biorefinery Model is considered a static model. As such, it 

relies on inter-industry relationships and personal consumption patterns existing in the year of 

the multipliers. The model does not account for feedback through demand increases or 

reductions that could result from price changes. Similarly, the model does not account for 

feedback from inflation, or potential constraints on labor, goods, or money supplies. The model 

assumes there are adequate local resources and production and service capabilities to meet the 

level of local demand identified in the modeling assumptions. Similarly, the model does not 

automatically take into account industry productivity improvements that may occur over time or 

changes that may occur in the construction or operations and maintenance processes (e.g., 

requirement for labor and materials) for new biorefineries.

Third, the JEDI Fast Pyrolysis Biorefinery Model was not designed to provide cash flow 

projections or for use as a cash flow analysis tool. 

Fourth, the analysis assumes the outputs from the biorefinery operations and the revenues 

generated from these outputs are sufficient to accommodate the equity and debt repayment and 

annual operating expenditures. To the extent additional revenues (i.e., sale of by-products or 

profits and tax advantages above actual costs) accrue to the project owner, there will be added 

benefits. These benefits are not included in the analysis.

 9 The JEDI models do not estimate the displaced jobs, earnings, and output related to alternative investments or 

increases or decreases in jobs related to changes in prices of refinery products, associated revenues or consumer 

energy bills, among other impacts. Therefore, the estimates represent gross rather than net impacts.
10

This report is available at no cost from the National Renewable Energy Laboratory (NREL) at www.nrel.gov/publications.

5 User Add-in Location Feature 

The initial design of the JEDI model provided for state-level impact analysis. However, it was 

apparent that many potential users might wish to perform a similar level of analysis for a smaller 

or more localized region (e.g., an individual county or group of counties) or for a larger region 

(e.g., Midwestern region) to better capture the regional benefits. Unfortunately, the high cost of 

including multiplier and expenditure data in the model for every county in the United States and 

the complexities associated with designing the model to analyze the endless number of 

possibilities for combining counties and states made this impractical. 

To accommodate users who desire to do this level of analysis, a User Add-in Location feature is 

provided in the model. This feature allows users with the capability to derive or obtain the 

necessary data to complete analysis for a specific region of interest other than the state level 

included with the base model. The necessary inputs include direct, indirect, and induced 

multipliers for employment, earnings and output (per million dollars change in final demand),

and personal consumption expenditure patterns (i.e., average consumer expenditures on goods 

and services—calculated as a percentage for each industry) for the aggregated10 industries and 

the 432 IMPLAN unaggregated industry sectors (IMPLAN 2014).

11 The aggregated industries 

include: 

1. Agriculture 

2. Construction 

3. Electrical equipment 

4. Fabricated metals 

5. Finance, insurance, and real estate 

6. Government 

7. Machinery 

8. Mining 

9. Other manufacturing 

10. Other services 

11. Professional services 

12. Retail trade 

13. Transportation, communication, and public utilities 

14. Wholesale trade. 

For IMPLAN users, gathering the necessary data will require the following steps: 

 10 Aggregated multipliers are used when the expenditures being analyzed do not clearly fit into a specific industry or 

multipliers for the specific industry are unavailable. When the expenditure clearly fits into a specific industry where 

the multipliers are available, the unaggregated multipliers for the target industry are used. 11 For more detail on the IMPLAN industry sectoring, see the IMPLAN documentation available on the IMPLAN 

website at http://implan.com/index.php?option=com_content&view=article&id=633:633&catid=241:KB23.
11

This report is available at no cost from the National Renewable Energy Laboratory (NREL) at www.nrel.gov/publications.

1. Purchase the desired county- or regional-level data files

2. Using IMPLAN Version 3 software or the most current available, create a new model for

the desired county or region (e.g., a group of counties or states)

3. Construct the model12

4. Export all industry multipliers for employment, employee compensation, and output to 

spreadsheet files

5. Format data contained in each of these files to input (i.e., cut and paste) into the 

unaggregated portion of the respective location (MyCounty for a single county or 

MyRegion for a group of counties or states) in the User Add-in Location worksheet in the 

JEDI

6. Aggregate the model. This step requires the user to create a new 14-industry aggregation 

scheme to aggregate the new model. The JEDI aggregation template used to aggregate 

the state multipliers into the 14 industries noted above is available by request from 

NREL13

7. Reconstruct the model 

8. Export household local commodity demand (personal consumption expenditures) and 

multipliers for employment, employee compensation, and output to spreadsheet files 

9. Format data contained in each of these files to input (i.e., cut and paste) into the 

aggregated portion of the respective location (MyCounty for a single county or 

MyRegion for a group of counties or states) in the User Add-in Location worksheet in 

JEDI. 

Once data is entered into the JEDI model, the user needs to identify the location of the 

biorefinery (in the project description section of the ProjectData worksheet) as MyCounty or 

MyRegion, depending upon the type of data and where the data is entered, and then proceed with 

the analysis. 

For non-IMPLAN users or those unfamiliar with input-output modeling, there are several options 

for gathering the necessary data to perform specific county or regional analysis. These include: 

1. Follow a similar process as that noted above to derive the aggregated and unaggregated 

multipliers and consumer expenditure data (aggregated) from another input-output 

modeling tool.

2. Purchase the necessary data (aggregated and unaggregated multiplier and consumer 

commodity demand—see description above) from the IMPLAN Group, Inc. (IMPLAN

2014).

3. Purchase the necessary data (aggregated and unaggregated multiplier and consumer 

commodity demand—see description above) from MRG & Associates, one of the JEDI 

model developers.

 12 See the IMPLAN software online reference manual for more detail on constructing models (IMPLAN 2014). 13 Contact NREL at JEDISupport@nrel.gov.
12

This report is available at no cost from the National Renewable Energy Laboratory (NREL) at www.nrel.gov/publications.

6 Data Sources and Cost Categories

Analyzing the economic impacts of constructing and operating biorefineries requires a large 

amount of project-specific data as well as economic data. The data includes feedstock rate, types

of biomass feedstock, share of each feedstock and its cost, detailed project capital costs, labor 

rates, location specific input-output multipliers and personal expenditure patterns, and price 

deflators to insure consistency of project costs with industry multipliers used in the analysis,

14

among others. Project-specific differences such as feedstock rate, types and costs of feedstock, 

production capacity, on-stream factor, and availability of equipment and specialized labor can 

significantly impact costs. Similarly, the year in which the costs are reported in the analysis (e.g., 

equipment costs from year 2008, in 2008 dollars, versus equipment costs from 2011, reported in 

2011 dollars) can have a significant impact on analyzing the economic impacts. As a result, it is 

not possible to identify a “one size fits all” scenario. As of the writing of this report, no 

commercial-scale fast pyrolysis biorefineries had been built in the United States and developers

generally consider project financial data proprietary due to competitive forces in the 

marketplace. The limited availability of detailed project cost data makes efforts to analyze the 

economic impacts even more difficult. Given the complex nature of developing cost estimates 

for biorefineries, and the lack of detailed cost data publicly available, the default cost data for 

various cost categories was derived primarily from the design case described in Jones et al. 

(2013) along with other references (Davis et al. 2013, Peters et al. 2013), which document design 

cases for biorefineries using advanced yet developing biofuel technology pathways or present 

economic principles as applied in chemical engineering processes and operations. 

Building on the construction and operations and maintenance parameters and associated costs 

derived from these references, the JEDI model provides default values for all inputs necessary to 

perform an analysis for a fast pyrolysis biorefinery with a feedstock rate of 2,000 metric tons per 

day of dry biomass. The following defines some key parameters and model inputs used 

throughout the JEDI model, and provides a brief description of approaches employed to estimate 

these parameters. 

6.1 Feedstock Rate

Plant feedstock rate (fr) refers to the input or feed processing capacity of the biorefinery. The 

feedstock rate varies by biorefinery design and strategic decisions related to projected fuel 

demand, resource availability and costs among other factors. The default feedstock rate used in 

the model is 2,205 dry short tons per day (2,000 dry metric tons per day). Although fast pyrolysis 

of biomass is being commercialized, upgrading the pyrolysis oil to transportation fuels 

(blendstocks) is still an emerging technology (Jones et al. 2013). As a result, there is no standard 

or typical capacity for a fast pyrolysis biorefinery of this type. Users are required to input a

feedstock rate or accept the default value. In addition to being the key factor for calculating the 

amount of feedstock required annually and the overall refinery production capacity, the 

feedstock rate provides the basis for scaling of process equipment costs. 

6.2 Production

Production (p) refers to the amount (e.g., volume) of products that can be generated by a 

biorefinery in a year. Based on the feedstock rate noted above, and estimated biofuel yields, the 

 14 For a summary of how the model adjusts for cost differences see section 3.2 Model Overview, in this Guide. 
13

This report is available at no cost from the National Renewable Energy Laboratory (NREL) at www.nrel.gov/publications.

default production for the plant is calculated to be 60.6 million gallons per year of combined 

gasoline and diesel blendstocks, which include 28.9 million gallons of gasoline blendstock and 

31.7 million gallons of diesel blendstock.15 It is estimated that the fast pyrolysis process yields 

39.9 gallons of gasoline blendstock and 43.7 gallons of diesel blendstock from each dry ton of 

biomass feedstock (Jones et al. 2013). Production is calculated as:

p= (39.9*fr*365*os)+(43.7*fr*365*os)

Where;

feedstock rate (fr)=2,205 tons per day

on-stream factor (os)=0.90

Users are required to input a production capacity or accept the default value if desired.

6.3 On-stream Factor

On-stream factor (os) refers to the actual time during a year a plant is operating. The factor is 

expressed as a percentage in the JEDI model, with 100% implying the plant is operating 24 hours 

per day 365 days per year. The default on-stream factor used in the JEDI model is 90% (Jones et 

al. 2013), indicating the plant operating time (ot) is 7,884 hours per year. Plant operating time is 

calculated as:

ot=365*24*os

Users are required to input an on-stream factor or accept the default value.

6.4 Feedstock Costs and Specifications

Feedstock costs and specifications refer to the aggregate delivered cost ($/dry ton) for all 

biomass feedstocks utilized in the biorefinery. Table 1 provides the detailed cost categories for 

each stage involved in harvesting, processing and transportation for each of the default feedstock 

types incorporated within the JEDI model (Cafferty et al. 2014).

16 In addition, the table indicates 

the default share (i.e., percentage of total) for each feedstock. The values in the table are used to 

allocate the feedstock costs among different economic sectors within the analysis. 

 15 The default total production value (60.6 million gallons) differs slightly from that reported in Jones et al. 2013 

(60.5 million gallons) due to independent rounding of values.

16 The feedstocks types, costs and share of total for the default analysis are based on the latest 2017 Idaho National 

Laboratory design case (Jacobson et al. 2014), updated from the blend described in Cafferty et al. 2014 and Jones et 

al. 2013.
14 

This report is available at no cost from the National Renewable Energy Laboratory (NREL) at www.nrel.gov/publications.

Table 1. Cost Categories for Biomass Feedstocks Delivered to the Biorefinery (Default Values)

Cost Category

Pulpwood Logging 

Residues Switchgrass 

Construction and

Demolition Waste

(C&D)

Blend

Grower/Provider payment $25.00 $26.35 $19.67 $8.15 $21.90

Harvest and collection $22.24 $0.00 $15.41 - $10.47

Landing Preprocessing/Sorting $12.17 $8.73 $0.00 $9.85 $10.24

Transportation $10.98 $3.33 $4.50 $6.87 $7.52

Preprocessing $23.97 $23.97 $19.70 $28.12 $24.67

Storage $3.23 $3.23 $5.50 $3.23 $3.30

Handling $1.90 $1.90 $1.90 $1.90 $1.90

Total Delivered Cost $99.49 $67.51 $66.68 $58.12 $80.00

Percent of Total 45% 32% 3% 20% 100%

Note: All costs are in dollars per dry short ton. Logging residues costs do not include costs associated with harvest 

and collection; these are attributed to the merchantable portion of the tree. Cost estimates are derived from Jacobson 

et al. (2014), BETO (2014) and Cafferty (2015).

Users are required to input (or accept the default values of) the delivered cost (dollars per dry 

short ton) and the share (percentage) each feedstock (fs) type contributes to the feedstock blend 

(see Figure 4). The annual amount of feedstock is based on the biorefinery feedstock rate. Figure 

4 shows an example for model inputs used to estimate feedstock costs delivered to the 

biorefinery. 

The total annual amount of feedstock (af) required (in dry short tons) is calculated as:

af=fr*365 days per year*os

The annual cost of feedstock (afc) for each feedstock type is calculated as:

afc=af*fs

Users must also input (or accept default values) the amount of each feedstock that is produced 

locally (i.e., in the area being analyzed) and the portion of that locally produced share that is new

production. New production of biomass feedstock refers to new plantings that do not reduce 

plantings of other crops or offset existing uses or revenues (i.e., not surplus or crops being sold 

elsewhere). For the subset of construction and demolition (C&D) waste, new production refers 

to waste not already being sold for other uses. 

Figure 4. JEDI model feedstock data input section from Project Data page. 
15

This report is available at no cost from the National Renewable Energy Laboratory (NREL) at www.nrel.gov/publications.

6.5 Construction and Operations and Maintenance Costs

In addition to the biorefinery project descriptive data noted above, the model includes a bill of 

goods (e.g., detailed costs associated with actual construction of the facility, roads, storage tanks, 

costs for equipment and other services required), annual operating and maintenance costs, data 

on the portion of expenditures spent locally, financing terms and tax rates, and a location 

adjustment factor, among others. 

A location adjustment factor, specific to the state where the biorefinery is built, is automatically 

applied to all construction expenditures within the model to account for differences in labor costs 

due to variations in state construction sector earnings.

17 Both the simple and advanced model 

options incorporate the location adjustment factor in the analysis; however, if the user has more 

localized or current information on plant equipment or other costs in the state or region being 

analyzed, the detailed cost can be changed by choosing the advanced option.

More specifically, the model incorporates the following key project-specific inputs:

1. Site development costs

2. Process unit costs

3. Infrastructure costs

4. Labor costs

5. Other costs

6. Sales tax

7. Annual operating and maintenance costs (fixed – labor, maintenance and other materials 

and services, and variable – disposal, chemicals and catalysts, utilities, and feedstocks)

8. Local shares.

6.5.1 Site Development Costs

Site development costs (sdc) include civil engineering and other construction-related activities 

not included in the process unit installation or infrastructure. Among others, the site 

development costs include: fencing, curbing, roads, parking lots, drainage, rail system (if 

applicable), and general paving. Site development costs are calculated as a fixed percentage of 

the total installed equipment (process units) cost (tiec) (Jones et al. 2013). 

sdc = tiec*0.10

Users may override the default site development costs in the advanced model option and input 

their own cost if desired.

 17 The location adjustment factor is based on analysis of average construction sector earnings per job in each state 

and the base default cost data. The earnings data is derived from the IMPLAN state construction sector multiplier 

data developed for the JEDI model.
16

This report is available at no cost from the National Renewable Energy Laboratory (NREL) at www.nrel.gov/publications.

6.5.2 Process Unit Costs

Process unit costs refer to the process units (i.e., equipment) only and do not include installationrelated costs, which are accounted for in labor costs. Equipment costs are based on a baseline 

cost and scaling factor. The basis for scaling is typically some characteristic of the equipment 

related to production capacity (f) such as flow or heat duty (Davis et al. 2013). As facility 

capacity and flow change, equipment costs (ec) are adjusted using appropriate scaling factors (b) 

and the baseline costs (a) obtained from vendor quotes. The JEDI model includes adjusted 

equipment costs for different production capacities based on scaling factors and baseline costs 

presented in Jones et al. (2013). Scaling factors range from 0.34 to 0.79, with most equipment 

scaling factors between 0.6 and 0.7. The cost for a new piece of equipment is calculated as:

ec = a * (f1/f)b

Where;

ec = cost of new equipment

a = baseline cost

f1 = size of new equipment

f = size of baseline equipment

Adding up the equipment costs within a process unit yields the process unit costs. Users may 

override the process unit costs (default values) in the advanced model option and input their own 

unit costs if desired.

6.5.3 Infrastructure Costs

Infrastructure costs (ic) include costs for general infrastructure and buildings, and additional 

piping. Each of the infrastructure costs is calculated as a fixed percentage of the total equipment 

(process unit) costs (tec) (data are derived from Jones et al. 2013). The infrastructure cost for 

general infrastructure and buildings (icb) is calculated as:

icb = tec*0.04

The infrastructure cost for additional piping (icp) is calculated as:

icp = tec*0.045

Users may override the infrastructure cost defaults in the advanced model option and input their 

own system costs if desired.

6.5.4 Labor Costs

Labor costs (lc) include the labor portion of the total installed costs for each process unit, and 

encompass both skilled and general labor, as well as the associated employer costs (social 

security, workers compensation, benefits, etc.). Labor costs are calculated as a function of the 

equipment (process unit) cost (ec), the installation factor (if) and the location adjustment factor 

(la). Installation factors vary from as low as 1.09 for some compressors to as high as 9.73 for a 

steam generator (Jones et al. 2013). The labor costs are calculated as:
17

This report is available at no cost from the National Renewable Energy Laboratory (NREL) at www.nrel.gov/publications.

lc = (ec*if*la)-ec

Users may override the labor cost defaults in the advanced model option and input their own 

labor costs if desired.

6.5.5 Other Costs

Other costs (oc) include field expenses, home office and miscellaneous construction expenses, other

expenses (e.g., permits and fees), insurance and land. The JEDI model assumes other costs plus site 

development costs represent added direct costs and are approximately 81% of the combined cost 

of total installed equipment costs (tiec) and infrastructure costs (ic) (Jones et al. 2013). Field 

expenses (fe), home office and construction expenses (hoe), and other expenses (oe) are assumed to 

have a ratio of 1:2:1 (Davis et al. 2013). These other costs are calculated as a function of the total 

direct costs (tdc) minus site development costs (sdc), insurance expense (ine) and land expense 

(le), and the ratio (expressed as a percentage of the total) for each of the individual cost 

categories. Insurance costs are calculated as a fixed percentage of the sum of total installed 

equipment costs and infrastructure costs; land expenses are calculated as a fixed percentage of 

the total equipment (process unit) costs (tec) (Jones et al. 2013). 

Insurance expense is calculated as:

ine =(tiec+ic)*0.004

Land expense is calculated as:

le = tec*0.005

The field expenses are calculated as:

fe = ((tiec+ic)*.81-(sdc+ie+le))*fer

Where;

field expense ratio (fer) = 1/(1+2+1)

The home office and construction expenses are calculated as:

hoe = ((tiec+ic)*.81-(sdc+ie+le))*hoer.

Where;

home office and construction expense ratio (hoer) = 2/(1+2+1)

The other expenses are calculated as:

oe = (tiec+ic)*.81-(sdc+ie+le))*oer.

Where;

other expense ratio (oer) = 1/(1+2+1)
18

This report is available at no cost from the National Renewable Energy Laboratory (NREL) at www.nrel.gov/publications.

Users may override the defaults for any other costs in the advanced model option and input their 

own costs (in dollars) for any of the cost categories.

6.5.6 Sales Tax

The model assumes sales tax is paid on all materials and equipment purchases made during 

construction and annual ongoing operations. The default sales tax rate is calculated based on the state 

in which the biorefinery will be located. Similarly, the model incorporates a sales tax exemption if 

applicable.18 Both values are set within other parameters under tax parameters on the Project Data 

page in the JEDI model.

Users may override the sales tax and exemption default values in the advanced model option and 

input their own values (in percentages) for both categories.

6.5.7 Annual Operation and Maintenance Costs

Once a biorefinery is operational, there are annual fixed and variable operation and maintenance 

costs. 

6.5.7.1 Fixed Costs

Fixed costs are costs that are independent of output, including labor, basic maintenance

materials, services, and insurance and taxes. 

Labor Costs

Labor cost includes salaries and employer costs for all staff employed on-site to operate and 

maintain the facility. Figure 5 provides the default labor parameters used to determine total 

staffing costs and the number of positions/staff required, assuming the biorefinery will be located 

in Iowa. The on-site position and staff requirements are derived from Jones et al. (2013). 

 18 Sales tax rates are derived from state Department of Finance websites as of January 2014. Sales and property tax 

exemptions are based on the Database of State Incentives for Renewables & Efficiency (DSIRE) 

(http://www.dsireusa.org/).
19

This report is available at no cost from the National Renewable Energy Laboratory (NREL) at www.nrel.gov/publications.

Figure 5. Default values for the number of positions required and labor rates for Iowa (on the 

Project Data page of the JEDI model).

Labor costs are based on annual salaries (s) for each position (adjusted for location), employer 

labor-related overhead, and the number of positions required (p). The default labor multiplier (o)

is 1.28, accounting for a labor overhead of 28% (Bureau of Labor Statistics 2014). A scaling 

factor (b), which varies depending upon whether the number of a particular position is affected 

by the production capacity of the biorefinery, is applied to all positions (Peters et al. 2003). The 

labor expense for each position (lcp) is calculated as: 

lcp=s*la*o*(p*(c1/c)

b

)

Where;

Lcp = labor expense

s=annual salary for each position

la =location adjustment

c1 = production capacity of a new biorefinery (million gallons per year)

c = 60.6 million gallons per year (default baseline production capacity)

b = 0.225 for positions, including maintenance technicians, lab technicians, shift 

operators and yard employees

b = 0 for positions other than those, for which b = 0.225

Users may override the default annual salary and number of positions required in the advanced 

model option and input their own costs (in dollars) for any of the positions if desired.
20

This report is available at no cost from the National Renewable Energy Laboratory (NREL) at www.nrel.gov/publications.

All on-site operation and maintenance jobs estimated in the results summary of the JEDI model 

are considered annual full-time equivalent (FTE) jobs, sustaining for the entire economic life of 

the biorefinery. It should be noted that a biorefinery may use part-time employees and the 

optimal staff size may vary by location and refinery configuration.

Maintenance Costs

Maintenance cost (m) includes materials only; maintenance labor is accounted for under labor 

costs. The maintenance cost is calculated as a fixed percentage of total fixed capital investment 

(fci) (Jones et al. 2013).19 Maintenance cost is calculated as: 

m = fci*.03

Service Costs

Service costs are included as a cost category in the JEDI model, however, there is no specific 

default value for this cost category in the model. Users may input their own service cost (in 

dollars) if the costs are not included elsewhere within another category.

Insurance and Taxes

Insurance and taxes (it) are calculated together as a fixed percentage of total fixed capital 

investment (Jones et al. 2013). Insurance and taxes are calculated as: 

it = fci*.007

6.5.7.2 Variable Costs

Variable costs are costs that vary with output. Variable costs include disposal of ash, water and

solid waste, as well as expenditures for chemicals and catalysts, utilities, and feedstocks. The 

cost for each of these inputs (vci) is calculated based on the respective usage rate (u), cost factor

(cf) and the appropriate annual output (e.g., gallons per year) or operating hours (hours per year). 

For example, in calculating ash disposal costs, where the disposal rate is 6,704 pounds per hour 

(lb/hr), the cost factor is $18 per ton of ash, and the annual operating hours are 7,884 hours

(taking into account a 90% on-stream time). The disposal costs for ash are estimated as:

6,704*18*7,884/2000 =$475,689 per year 

Figure 6 provides the default values on usage rates and cost factors for each of the respective 

input types (Jones et al. 2013). The annual costs are automatically calculated based on the usage 

rate and cost factor data (default or user revised). Alternately, users may enter the Annual Cost 

rather than the usage rate and cost factor (necessary for the automatic calculation).

Feedstock costs are also considered a variable cost. As noted in the Feedstock Costs and 

Specifications section (Section 6.4), the annual costs are calculated based on feedstock data 

(default or user revised) contained in the Project Descriptive data area. 

 19 Fixed Capital Investment refers to all construction costs, including site development, process units, infrastructure, 

labor and other costs (field expenses, home office and construction, other (permits, fees, etc.), insurance and land). It 

does not include costs associated with contingency. 
21

This report is available at no cost from the National Renewable Energy Laboratory (NREL) at www.nrel.gov/publications.

Figure 6. Default values for the Other Resource Inputs (on the Project Data page of the JEDI 

model).

6.6 Local Share

A local share (percentage) is required to determine the economic impact that will accrue to the 

state or geographic area being analyzed over the project lifetime. If a service or material is 

available in the state or geographic area, in which the project is located, then a percentage is 

assigned based on the availability of that service or material. For example, site development

during the biorefinery construction phase will likely be sourced locally. As such, a 100% local 

share can be assumed for the costs associated with site development. Conversely, a state or 

geographic area being analyzed may not have an engineering firm familiar with pipeline

techniques. Therefore, a 0% local share may be assigned to the costs associated with piping. 

In general, JEDI assumes that activities that do not require specialized skills, such as 

construction and general labor, are locally sourced. The same is true for materials that are widely 

available such as cement and water. States that have an established track record of oil and gas or 

biorefinery operations, such as Texas or California, typically offer many of the services, 

equipment, and materials required in a biorefinery project. If one of these states is chosen as the 
22

This report is available at no cost from the National Renewable Energy Laboratory (NREL) at www.nrel.gov/publications.

project location, then a higher local impact will be likely be realized compared to a project 

located in a state without an established refinery industry.

20

Although the model contains default local share values, more project specific local values may 

be obtained from a variety of sources. Among others, these include: knowledgeable persons in 

the area, contacting local business and contractor organizations, refinery organizations, and/or 

the local chamber of commerce, among others.

 20 Default local share values were derived by the author in December 2012 based on a review of states with existing 

petroleum refineries and associated industry equipment and service providers. The data was updated in 2013 and 

2014 based on conversations with NREL staff regarding biorefinery manufacturers and suppliers.
23

This report is available at no cost from the National Renewable Energy Laboratory (NREL) at www.nrel.gov/publications.

7 Concluding Notes

The JEDI Fast Pyrolysis Biorefinery Model is a tool, which can be used to estimate local (e.g., 

county- or state-level) job creation, earnings, and output from total economic activity for a given 

fast pyrolysis biorefinery project. These estimates include the direct, indirect and induced 

economic impacts to the local economy associated with biorefinery construction and operation 

phases. Local revenue and supply chain impacts as well as induced impacts are estimated using 

economic multipliers derived from the IMPLAN software program. 

The JEDI model is considered a static model. The current version of the model is built on 2012 

multipliers for inter-industry relationships and personal consumption patterns. When the prices 

of raw materials and other parameters (e.g., inter-industry relationships and spending patterns) 

are significantly different than those in 2012, the model might over- or under-estimate the 

number of jobs. 

It should be emphasized that the JEDI model does not estimate net jobs created by a fast 

pyrolysis biorefinery because the model does not take into account the extent to which the 

biorefinery project might displace other jobs. For example, increased biofuel production from the 

biorefinery project might reduce demand for conventional fuels, and therefore likely result in 

changes in jobs in conventional fuel industries if total demand for transportation fuels remains 

unchanged. 
24 

This report is available at no cost from the National Renewable Energy Laboratory (NREL) at www.nrel.gov/publications.

References

Bioenergy Technologies Office (BETO). (2014). Multi-Year Program Plan. DOE.EE 1108. 

Washington, D.C.: U.S. Department of Energy. Accessed September 22, 2014: 

http://www.energy.gov/sites/prod/files/2014/07/f17/mypp_july_2014.pdf. 

Bureau of Labor Statistics. (2014). Employer Costs for Employee Compensation – March 2014. 

Washington, D.C.: United States Department of Labor. Accessed October 19, 2014: 

http://www.bls.gov/news.release/pdf/ecec.pdf. 

Cafferty, Kara. Personal communication on feedstock costs. Email exchange between Cafferty, 

K. (INL) and Goldberg, M. (MRG and Associates). February 13, 2015. 

Cafferty, K.; Jacobson, J.J.; Searcy, E.; Kenney, K.L.; Bonner, I.J.; Gresham, G.L.; Hess, R.J.; 

Smith, W.A.; Thompson, D.N.; Thompson, V.S.; Tumuluru, J.S.; Yancey, N. (2014). Feedstock 

Supply System Design and Economics for Conversion of Lignocellulosic Biomass to 

Hydrocarbon Fuels: Conversion Pathway: Fast Pyrolysis and Hydrotreating Bio-oil Pathway: 

The 2017 Design Case. INL/EXT-14-31211. Idaho Falls, ID: Idaho National Laboratory. 

Accessed September 9, 2014: http://www.inl.gov/ 

technicalpublications/Documents/6038147.pdf. 

Davis, R.; Tao, L.; Tan, E.C.D.; Biddy, M.J.; Beckham, G.T.; Scarlata, C.; Jacobson, J; Cafferty, 

K.; Ross, J.; Lukas, J.; Knorr, D.; Schoen, P. (2013). Process Design and Economics for the 

Conversion of Lignocellulosic Biomass to Hydrocarbon Fuels, Dilute-Acid and Enzymatic 

Deconstruction of Biomass to Sugars and Biological Conversion of Sugars to Hydrocarbons. 

NREL/TP-5100-6022. Golden, CO: National Renewable Energy Laboratory. 

IMPLAN Group, LLC. (2014). IMPLAN Reference Manual. Accessed September 5, 2014: 

http://www.implan.com/index.php?option=com_content&view=article&id=813&Itemid=1552. 

Jones, S.; Meyer, P.; Snowden-Swan, L.; Padmaperuma, A.; Tan, E.; Dutta, A.; Jacobson, J.; 

Cafferty, K. (2013) . Process Design and Economics for the Conversion of Lignocellulosic 

Biomass to Hydrocarbon Fuels: Fast Pyrolysis and Hydrotreating Bio-oil Pathway. PNNL23053; NREL/TP-5100-61178. Richland, WA: Pacific Northwest National Laboratory; Golden, 

CO: National Renewable Energy Laboratory; Idaho Falls, ID: Idaho National Laboratory. 

Accessed October 19, 2014: http://www.nrel.gov/docs/fy14osti/61178.pdf. 

Leontief, W.W. (1986). Input-Output Economics. 2nd ed. New York, NY: Oxford 

University Press.

Peters, M.S.; Timmerhaus, K.D.; West, R.E. (2003). Plant Design and Economics for Chemical 

Engineers. 5th ed. New York, NY: McGraw-Hill. 

U.S. Government Printing Office (GPO). (2013). “Budget FY 2013 – Table 10.1 – Gross 

Domestic Product and Deflators Used in the Historical Tables: 1940 – 2017.” In Budget of the 

United States Government. Washington, D.C.: U.S. GPO. Accessed November 2014: 

http://www.gpo.gov/fdsys/granule/BUDGET-2013-TAB/BUDGET-2013-TAB-10-1.