Here We Go Again
Posted: February 8, 2008
It has been way too quiet lately when it comes to negative news about biofuels, but that changed today with the release of studies that say clearing land for biofuels will increase global warming. And the studies include alternative feedstocks here, not just corn and soybeans. Because we are going to be growing more crops of any type, the studies claim it will be worse for global warming than than using gasoline or other fossil fuel.
The media has jumped on this story like ticks on a hound dog. Virtually every major news outlet from the Washington Post to the LA Times is running the story, so expect this to be the next big issue for biofuels to address.
It is important to point out that these studies are based on models, predictions and assumptions that may not turn out to be true. A short counterpoint in the Washington Post article quotes Brent Erickson, executive vice president of the Biotechnology Industry Organization’s industrial and environmental section, who said using renewable resources always made sense in the long run, compared with gasoline and diesel fuel.
“It makes no sense to continue burning fossil carbon, which is essentially carbon that has already been sequestered for millions of years in the Earth’s crust, and which when burned releases carbon dioxide and also creates a carbon debt that can never be paid back,” he said. “It is much more logical to produce biofuels that recycle carbon, even if a short-term carbon debt is created. Even if it’s 167 years, you’re still better off than burning oil that can never be paid off.”