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biofuel make greenhouse gas worse?
Submitted by Deleted Accounts on February 10, 2008 - 7:50am.
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I was reading slashdot in the wee hours of the morning.. much like always, and I caught glimpse of an article I saw someone post on the much hated facebook.. so I figured I'd read it..
It links to an article discussing the biofuels debate, and how biofuels produce more emissions, and overall make greenhouse gases worse.
The argument focuses on the land use change side of the debate. Stating that the usage of land to produce biofuel crops large enough to support the worlds need of fuel, will be so much that it will demand clear cutting of rainforest directly, or indirectly. Stating this view is much overlooked, and dismissed as simplistic by biofuel advocates, but states this is not just something that can be ignored.
the link doesn't include the article, as you need to be a registered member of the sciencemag site (where the studies were hosted)..
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Where do I see myself mostly fitting in as far as making it a better habitat in my region?
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Total votes: 28
And...
not to mention the fact that the cost of food has doubled over the last 5 years. As the use of land for fuel crops grows, that means less space to grow food, when the global demand for food is steadily increasing to match increases in population. The solution to our fuel problems is NOT ethanol, but a change in lifestyle.
In an interview in the London Free Press about the miller who had to lay off staff because he can only afford to buy half the grain, the quote that i remember most vividly is something along the lines of: "the solution to high prices is high prices. THe market will work itself out." I suppose the omnipotent market will work everything out, when the high cost of food forces people to give up their wasteful luxury energy consumption in order to afford to live. already there are countries (Mexico is the first that comes to mind) that can't afford to feed themselves because of the loss of food crops. We can ignore reason and pretend that biofuel will save us until global starvation moves into our neighbourhoods, i suppose. all while we put on blinders to the fact that corn doesn't grow itself, but requires fuel consumption in addition to deforestation.
If biofuel is the solution, it won't come from fertile fields. It will come from making use of waste products in an effective way.
i believe in biofuels, (since you came along, you sexy thing)
so, biofuels... lots of international debate. lots of variables to take into account. ok, first of all, i am a supporter of the production and use of biofuels as well as many other renewable energies. peak oil / energy is right around the corner. we have ground transportation infrastructure in place, and while it's disgusting how much of this infrastructure seems to support private vehicle ownership, civilization depends on this infrastructure to feed itself. while there is a lot of room for reduction / conservation / efficiencies, the sooner the renewable fuels industry can replace the petroleum industry's transportation fuels is the better off we'll all be (in terms of energy security and environmental health).
so, how?
well, you, and many others, have mentioned that biofuels production prove more destructive to habitats than is worth in the benefits of using them. i'd like to suggest that you are 100% correct...
... ONLY IF...
we are talking about biofuels produced from virgin vegetable oils made from plants that are poor oil producers, or plants that require fertile land to grow.
i do not believe in using agricultural land or land containing a high-biota count to produce biofuels.
so, again, how?
Algae.
If you research algae as a feedstock for biofuels, you'll discover that the yield of oil from algae can be quite high (about 200 times higher than some conventional plant oils). You'll also discover that deserts are a prime location for production (lowest biota count as well as lots of sun). You might also discover that many different kinds of fuel can be converted from the algae slurry. So, if you wanted jet fuel, you convert the carbon chains in the oil to that similar to jet fuel. Yet another thing you'll discover is that algae, like all plants, uses photosynthesis, and is in fact the most efficient carbon sink on the planet. So, basically, recycling the CO2 we already have in the atmosphere instead of pulling up more carbon-rich black stuff from inside the guts of the planet and sticking it into the air.
Who's doing this? Well, in the past year, it has become economical enough for big players like Shell (fukrs), Virgin, and the US Military to begin their own investigations into biofuels made from algae... that tells me something. What does it tell you?
Anyway, i could go on and on and on, but i know if you cared about this issue, you'll look into it yourselves. I'm just here to try and prevent anyone from denouncing biofuels as a solution completely.
Cheers,
mb