BioFuels may do More Harm Than Good
According to the Royal Society and the European Union, unless strict rules are imposed on how biofuels are grown, biofuels have the potential to do more harm than good. Biofuels have the potential to reduce greenhouse gases, however, the devastation to forest lands to clear way for agricultural farming could do more harm to the environment.
The problem lies with the battle for remaining arable land for crops and a growing demand for food as the worlds population continues to rise. Scientists that have studied the issue argue that more carbon dioxide emissions could be saved by protecting forest land rather than using biofuels.
The argument for biofuels and its implications are clearly not over and only time will tell the outcome over this issue.
Update (4/30/2008): Now we have seen the real harm biofuels have done to the world. The pressures and demand for food have driven the prices up exponentially to the point where millions more people will go malnourished or hungry due to inability to pay and lack of access. Read Related Articles below for more information.
Related Blog Articles:
Looming Food Crisis
Food Crisis to Get Worse
11 COMMENTS, ADD YOURS HERE:
Corn biofuels are not as effective as gasoline due to the fact you have to use more than the other! In most cases, corn fuel is more expenive than regular gasoline!
There's a great report on corn ethanol available here:
http://newenergychoices.org/index.php?page=ethanol_rush&sd=ru
Also, a new study showed recently that cellulosic ethanol (made from switchgrass instead of corn) is much better for the environment than gasoline and corn ethanol -
http://www.ens-newswire.com/ens/jan2008/2008-01-08-091.asp
There's a great report on corn ethanol available here:
http://newenergychoices.org/index.php?page=ethanol_rush&sd=ru
Also, a new study showed recently that cellulosic ethanol (made from switchgrass instead of corn) is much better for the environment than gasoline and corn ethanol -
http://www.ens-newswire.com/ens/jan2008/2008-01-08-091.asp
Biofuels do harm the environment and it is a very big issue because then we would have less trees, less nature, which means less carbon dioxide and less oxygen. Plus biofuels would be more expensive than regular gasoline.
Well biofuels is very bad and it is an issue to the environment. if we did use biofuels then we would have less trees and no nature which means less carbon dioxide and less oxygen.
Corn biofuels are definitely a large issue for the environment. They are less efficient than gasoline, cost more to produce - requiring subsidies, and use otherwise arable that could be dedicated to food production. However, the switchgrass research from Nebraska and neighboring states is painting a pretty future for that efficient and green fuel. Let's hope that it can arrive sooner rather than later.
Corn is a ridiculous option. Algae, algae, algae. People interested in this subject need to know about the carbon neutral option of Algae Petroleum.
Corn produces 48 gallons of oil per acre per year. Algae yields up to 20,000 gallons per acre per year. Best of all it's carbon neutral. This means it produces enough oxygen and uses enough carbon dioxide in the growth to not hurt our environment.
I'm stunned that great blogs like this aren't filled with comments about algae fuels yet. People just don't know yet and it's sad.
Please support the real alternative at http://www.algaepetro.com
^^Hey thanks for the comment =)
I've read about algae oils a couple years ago, and I remember reading that the efficiency was way more practical than anything could ever match. Thanks the comment, I will look into making a post about this, because as you've mentioned this needs to be looked at more seriously than anything our country has going on right now...I've even looked into how one would go about starting an algae producing plant for ethanol, but seems it may be a bit complicated. You should email me sometime so we could talk about this a little more.
-JT
Algae is the best method... good read/link. Another recent form of feeding sugar stuffs to genetically modified bacteria who excrete pure petroleum. The size of the factory would be prolific, but it could replace imports. There's a local company doing the research (SF Bay Area). Similar to this, but they were being fed sugar...
http://afp.google.com/article/ALeqM5iYXm1UNEI-ViI-p5S6TAaogyDv8Q
The lobby in Europe to put the brakes on biofuel being a compulsory addition to vehicle fuel is gathering pace after the publication of a UK government backed report that backs up lots of what has been said here. The RSPB (Royal Society for the Protection of Birds) who campaign for the protection of the environment around the world has added its voice - Dr Mark Avery their director of conservation features in the current podcast on the subject www.rspb.org.uk/podcasts/naturesvoice.asp
Our world food shortages are alarming, we can not afford to depend on bio fuels, what is needed is a an alternative energy source for cars. It will not use oil or food products.
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