Biofuels 'do more harm than good'

[gLing]

Controversial plans to make cars greener by using fuel made from crops and animal fat will be thrown into doubt this week when MPs are expected to question whether they will do more harm than good.
Biofuels have been hailed as a green alternative to oil by some, but in the US, where there are massive plants converting maize (corn), it has been criticised for making food more expensive and being environmentally unfriendly.

From April, petrol and diesel sold in the UK must have 2.5 per cent biofuels, drawn from sources such as tallow, rapeseed and sugar beet, rising to 5 per cent in two years' time. The EU wants to increase this to 10 per cent by 2020.

But the House of Commons Environmental Audit Committee is likely to call tomorrow for the schemes to be delayed because of fears that biofuels can have negative consequences. Criticisms include claims that producing some biofuels emits more greenhouse gases than fossil fuels and that habitats such as tropical rainforests are being destroyed to plant the new crops. The report, 'Are Biofuels Sustainable?', is also thought to predict that rising food prices pushed up by competition for land could restrict growth in the industry.

Biofuels 'do more harm than good' | Environment | The Observer

 

[redsMULLT1]

BAAAH!!!!! Look around in farming communities. You will see hundreds of corn binders (machines used to harvest corn) rusting away not being used. I know where there are 20 or so sitting around here too. Because growing corn became so unprofitable that they stopped growing it all together. These are not small machines and they aren't cheap either... I don't see a real increase in corn prices. I don't exactly trust news reports that much either. You never know when you are being told the real deal or what they want you to hear.

 

[TheOriginalJames]

Cost has to go up. It's nothing more than a fact of supply and demand. We have an abundance of corn throughout the year, why not raise the prices and give these farmers a damn break?

 

[gLing]

BAAAH!!!!! Look around in farming communities. You will see hundreds of corn binders (machines used to harvest corn) rusting away not being used. I know where there are 20 or so sitting around here too. Because growing corn became so unprofitable that they stopped growing it all together. These are not small machines and they aren't cheap either... I don't see a real increase in corn prices. I don't exactly trust news reports that much either. You never know when you are being told the real deal or what they want you to hear.

That may be true here in the US but is it the same case in places like Europe or South America?

 

[BadBoy@TheWheel]

Cost has to go up. It's nothing more than a fact of supply and demand. We have an abundance of corn throughout the year, why not raise the prices and give these farmers a damn break?

I have actually posted an article about Ethanol and the pitfalls, I know everyone is under the estute belief that we can in fact grow enough corn for food and fuel, this is actually a farce.

And what is happening more and more, is corporatizing of small farms into huge super conglomerates. In the end, the American farmer will the fuzzy end of the lolipop. Big business will never allow a farmer to make millions off of ethanol. It's just not going to happen, the corporate sharks smell blood in the water and they are going to feast. Bottom line.

We need better alternatives.

 

[All Else Failed]

it produces more pollution, its a waste.

 

[gLing]

We need better alternatives.

 

[thrawn]

That's heavy