No doubt there is a lot of excitement generated around the idea that biofuels can reduce our nation's dependence on fossil fuels, but are biofuels all they're cracked up to be? Of course, biofuels offer a number of advantages, not the least of which is the potential to create entirely new opportunities for both state and local economies, particularly for farmers. However, biofuels present several disadvantages as well, some of which may have dire consequences for our future. Consider the following concerns:

Are biofuels really better?

The consumer energy council of America states that,"Ethanol reduces levels of carbon monoxide and other toxic air pollutants. The biomass used for ethanol absorbs carbon dioxide (CO2) when it is grown, so it adds no net CO2 to the atmosphere. It can be used to boost the octane in gasoline to prevent engine knocking, and it increases gasoline's lubricity. It also takes only six months to harvest a substantial crop of fuel. Ethanol is an oxygenate that reduces ground-level ozone. Since ethanol can be produced locally, it has the potential to add to the local economy, particularly in the agricultural sector, and help reduce the importation of oil.

"When blended with standard transportation diesel, biodiesel helps to extend the energy capacity of the diesel. Biodiesel can also be used as a home heating oil. Because biodiesel is produced from natural sources, it generally releases as much carbon dioxide as it uses growing. A blend of 20 percent biodiesel will reduce carbon dioxide (CO2) emissions by 15 percent, and adding biodiesel also reduces the amount of particulates (PM), carbon monoxide (CO), and sulfur dioxide (SO2) released as emissions. Biodiesel is less combustible than petroleum, making it safer to store and transport. In addition, if biodiesel spills, it is biodegradable and breaks down roughly four times faster than petroleum diesel." However, they also stated that, "Depending on the ethanol/gasoline blend, ethanol may raise levels of nitrogen oxides produced as gasoline emissions. Because of its lower energy content relative to gasoline, ethanol also reduces mileage per gallon. Corn-based ethanol production is energy intensive, and in some instances uses nearly as much energy to produce (including the energy needed for farming and making fertilizers) than it supplies, although new technologies are improving the efficiency of production. Use of biodiesel results in increased levels of harmful nitrogen oxide (NOx) emissions when used in diesel engines, although not usually in residential heating equipment. Also, in and of itself biodiesel releases the same amount of hydrocarbon (or soluble carbon) emissions when burned as regular diesel. Furthermore, pure biodiesel has a high "clouding" point, meaning that liquid biodiesel begins to thicken into a solid at low temperatures. Because of its higher clouding point, biodiesel is more difficult to store and transport in cold climates, which adds to its cost."

http://www.cecarf.org/Programs/Fuels/Fuelfacts/Bio...

Could demand for biofuels drive up food prices?

A CNSnews release commented, "Environmental groups are backing away from federal biofuel and ethanol mandates. While renewable fuel sources may reduce greenhouse gas emissions they also could raise food costs and cause shortages, critics say.

'We are witnessing the beginning of one of the great tragedies of history,' Lester Brown, president of the Earth Policy Institute, said in a statement. 'The United States, in a misguided effort to reduce its oil insecurity by converting grain into fuel for cars, is generating global food insecurity on a scale never seen before.' "

http://www.cnsnews.com/ViewNation.asp?Page=/Nation...

An article by Larry West on About.com quotes, "Replacing only five percent of the nation's diesel consumption with biodiesel would require diverting approximately 60 percent of today's soy crops to biodiesel production," says Matthew Brown, an energy consultant and former energy program director at the National Conference of State Legislatures. "That's bad news for tofu lovers."

http://environment.about.com/od/fossilfuels/a/biofuels.htm

Will biofuel production increase pollution through deforestation or increased greenhouse gase emissions?

NationalGeographic.com states, "the study, titled 'Sustainable Bioenergy: A Framework for Decision Makers,' also warns that an unregulated biofuels boom will spawn deforestation, deplete soil nutrients, and undermine food security by monopolizing farmland.

'[T]he rapid growth in first-generation liquid biofuels production will raise agricultural commodity prices and could have negative economic and social effects, particularly on the poor who spend a large share of income on food,' the report says.

'In many parts of the world, such as Southeast Asia, biofuels businesses have already cleared primary forests to plant energy crops such as palm. After fossil fuel use, deforestation is the largest single source of greenhouse gas emissions into the atmosphere.' "

http://news.nationalgeographic.com/news/2007/05/07...

Who stands to gain the most from biofuels?

Rodale Institute argues that:

"Protecting ethanol subsidies in the new Energy Bill is a major issue now on the table for ADM's political partners (conspicuously absent has been any major media coverage--between ADM advertisements--of any opposition to ethanol). ADM-formed groups like the Renewable Fuels Association and National Corn Growers continue to stir up plenty of support among farmers for their cause. These groups, along with Daschle et al., make the case that the biofuels market presents an important economic opportunity for family farms. However, the subsidy program cloaked as financial aid to farmers has actually crushed thousands of corn farmers under the foot of ADM and other top agribusiness corporations.

"The most blatant argument against the biofuels industry in its current form, from a sustainability perspective, is that it does not represent good farming. Maximizing profits under a subsidized program dictates large-scale, monocropped farms. This lack of crop integration is a leading cause of soil erosion and invites pests and disease. Heavy fertilization is used to replenish the soil. This leads to non-point source pollution that has been the root of incalculable environmental degradation rendering a vast majority of the waters of the Corn Belt states unsuitable for drinking or swimming. The wanton application of petrochemical pesticides and herbicides is leaving a legacy of toxic and non-biodegradable residue in the watersheds of our amber waves of grain. The seeds for a large majority of the corn and soybeans grown in this country are genetically engineered and are threatening the integrity of the crops throughout the continent."

http://www.newfarm.org/features/0604/biofuels/inde...

What are your thoughts?