Spatial interaction models for biomass consumption in the United States

Five alternative spatial interaction patterns of biomass consumption in the United States in 2005 are compared using the spatial autoregressive model. The influences of geographical locations, biomass price and income on biomass consumption are translated into the spatial weight matrices of spatial autoregressive model. The results indicate that not only the geographical locations but also both the biomass price and the income significantly affect spatial interaction among biomass consumption in the United States. The results also show that spatial interaction among biomass consumption in the United States becomes weaker with the farther neighbor states. Spatial interaction among biomass consumption incurred by the income becomes stronger than that incurred by the biomass price. When the influences of both the biomass price and the income are combined together into the hybrid spatial autoregressive model, spatial interaction among biomass consumption is the strongest.

► A new idea is addressed to investigate biomass consumption which considers spatial interaction among biomass consumption. ► Influences of locations, biomass price and income on spatial interaction among biomass consumption are translated into spatial weight matrices. ► Results suggest that the geographical locations, biomass price and income are important for spatial interaction among biomass consumption. ► Results shed light on the regional biomass policy, as well as regional renewable energy policy.