Biofuels – not a panacea

George Seldes, in an Onward Oregon post titled, “Why subsidizing biofuels is a disastrous mistake”, links to two fascinating articles challenging the sustainability of biofuels, one from Britain, the other by a US author. Both cite extensive references and seem well-reasoned. Please read all three posts.

George Monbiot’s article, published in The Guardian British newspaper last month, states:

“The reason governments are so enthusiastic about biofuels is that they don’t upset drivers. They appear to reduce the amount of carbon from our cars, without requiring new taxes. It’s an illusion sustained by the fact that only the emissions produced at home count towards our national total. The forest clearance in Malaysia doesn’t increase our official impact by a gram.

In February the European Commission was faced with a straight choice between fuel efficiency and biofuels. It had intended to tell car companies that the average carbon emission from new cars in 2012 would be 120 grams per kilometre. After heavy lobbying by Angela Merkel on behalf of her car manufacturers, it caved in and raised the limit to 130 grams. It announced that it would make up the shortfall by increasing the contribution from biofuel.”

Both articles cite multiple reasons why growing crops for biofuels, and producing the fuel, may not be sound long-term food, fuel, or environmental protection policy. I would be very interested to read comments refuting any of their assertions.

I’m not saying biofuels are Bad. I believe they aren’t a panacea that will allow affluent people in developed countries to continue driving and polluting as much as we please. We need a wider debate before more of our tax dollars are allocated to subsidize growing food for fuel. And especially, governments should focus first on conservation and emissions standards, promoting lower-impact biofuels as a secondary approach to sustainable energy solutions.

Locally, we should have a broad conversation involving many different stakeholders and viewpoints from all over the Metro area, about the specific question of whether to subsidize and/or allow a biodiesel production facility in Linnton.