Biofuels: then and now

[Sgeir]

Following the latest Earthrace posts about biofuel sustainablity, I was interested to read the recent statement by Green Party MEP Dr Caroline Lucas; <ul type="square"> "This report adds to the ever increasing evidence that mass biofuels do not provide a sustainable alternative to fossil fuels. ............. How much more evidence is needed to persuade the Government to put the brakes on biofuels? ............... We need to actively seek to replace mass biofuels with less harmful, more sustainable and more environmentally beneficial alternatives." [/list] This appears to contradict a statement made to the Motor Boats Monthly Red Alert Campaign by a spokesperson for Dr Lucas; <ul type="square"> "Caroline suggests that those boaters that wish to promote green ideals could switch to using a bio diesel, rather than reverting to a petrol engined craft, and thus saving themselves money if a marine fuel duty derogation is abolished. This would also have the added benefit of helping to support the renewable fuel industry in the UK."
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[Deleted member 478]

What else would you expect from a politician?

 

[brianhumber]

Like most things Biofuels in the right place place and in the right amounts is no bad thing.
What is wrong is politicians jumping in on the bandwagon proclaiming this is the saviour, making silly rules and the rules leading to sky high prices and monoculture agriculture in the UK and loss of Jungle elsewhere.

Its not only Green peace picking this up, the Royal Society, Government Chief Scientist, RSPB, EU environment minister have all pointed out Browns stupidity in this area.

Just don't get me going on CRC rules please

Brian

 

[boatmike]

"Like most things Biofuels in the right place place and in the right amounts is no bad thing."

I know what you are getting at I think but the amount of energy used to convert bio-mass into fuel is quite high, and there is no regulation on the production of the bio-mass in the first place making the use of high nitrogen fertilisers tempting for producers. I am suspicious of this being sold as a "green" alternative. I think the drive towards it is more driven by the fact that while oil is by no means running out, low cost oil is. It's therefore more an economic alternative than an environmental one. That's why Bush now supports it. No one could ever accuse him of being green!