ENVIRONMENT

Doing It Wrong

A new study finds that the biofuels craze may be adding to our climate woes.

Newsweek Web Exclusive
Feb 11, 2008 | Updated: 5:07  p.m. ET Feb 11, 2008

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  • Posted By: ewassy36 @ 02/25/2008 1:02:50 PM

    To dispute the claim of 'RandallH'', biofuel can very well replace oil. Look at Brazil, during the oil crisis of the 70s, Brazil could not get enough oil and was forced to convert to biofuel. Today, approximately 70% of its fuel needs come from biofuel. With the aid of solar and wind power, the various technologies that were developed to power cars, we can get away from oil. Not buying oil also has an added benefit: We stop giving money to the Arab oil countries with which the 'terror' worldwide is financed.

  • Posted By: ewassy36 @ 02/25/2008 12:54:58 PM

    Biofuel can be made from many palnts, if not all, including organic waste, not only from corn. But the discussion about CO2 is getting out of hand. Of course it is a problem, but tens of thousands of years ago the CO2 level went up, too - without polluting industry. What we need is more oxygen, O2. Humanity, for thousands of years has cut down the trees of this earth, but not replantet. Trees are one of the sources of O2. If the Mr. Branson of Virgin Air would give $25million to plant trees instead of asking for a technology that makes it possible to remove the CO2 that circles our earth. All the rich foundations should also put emphasis on planting trees worldwide, from England, Spain, to Africa and the areas around the equator.

    Erik Wassenich
    Allentown, PA
    rewassenich@yahoo.com

  • Posted By: RandallH @ 02/17/2008 10:19:31 AM

    Biofuels: nice idea but they can't replace oil. Oil, like it or not, is a product that has wide applications in so many industries. As this article points out, there serious problems with biofuels. Biofuel Watch is a United Kingdom organization who's mission is warning us that biofuels create more problems than solutions. See http://www.biofuelwatch.org.uk/
    As much as Brazil has invested in biofuels, they explore for and have opened a couple of offshore oil deposits. The US is the only major, industrial power that doesn't tap into new, domestic oil deposits.

  • Posted By: iwannadoitall @ 02/13/2008 6:47:57 AM

    Are we missing a great opportunity in Hydro electric... Canada is researching low river drop technology that is fish friendly. These things will sit there year after year generating energy - no greenhouse gases of any kind.

    • Posted By: coldwam @ 02/16/2008 4:07:07 AM

      Hydro electric will sit there year after year, after destruction of residence of wild creatures and construction of dams.

  • Posted By: RightStance @ 02/13/2008 1:22:18 PM

    Oil is bad, biofuel is bad, nuclear energy is bad, windpower is bad because it hurts birds, profit is bad, companies are bad, the US is bad because some farmer in another country cant eat because they are forced to grow corn for biofuel (instead of eat it)...all while the earth gasps its last breaths. Why dont you sell everything and become a martyr algae farmer for the benefit of humanity? Oh, i forgot...algae is used for food, a very profitable industry, that would be unethical....

  • Posted By: Templarking @ 02/11/2008 10:28:36 PM

    ALGAE What is wrong with you writers You say you do research but you MISS the biggest answer to all the biodiesal problems ALGAE ALGAE ALGAE 1. IT makes 1500 times more oil then other crop. 2. IT can be grown anywhere (even sewage) 3. It renews it self it very short time. 4. ALso certain types of algae makes certain types of fuels (including jet fuel) SO BEFORE you write and discourage a great idea DO your research.

    • Posted By: DrZook @ 02/13/2008 8:15:21 AM

      What's wrong with what you suggest is that it would not make the right people rich to farm algae. Somewhere someone is making money off pushing the biofuel concept. It is not a workable solution. Even if every acre of arable land in the US were turned over to growing crops for the purpose of generating biofuel, it would not provide enough energy for that country's needs. The powers that be know this, but they do not CARE as long as they can make a short term profit! Short term profit causes long term blindness. Find out who is earning the big money out of growing corn and other edible foodstuffs which are being diverted to manufacture biofuel and you will find the enemies of human civilization. Algae is of course a real solution but it will never be grown on a large scale for that purpose because doing so would create an overabundance of renewable, ecologically friendly energy and that would destroy their profits and their power base. Oil companies make massive profits because of a perceived shortage of energy. Having lots of cheap, easily produced energy removes the perceived scarcity and they would not be able to "earn" their ever increasing, obscene profits year after year.

  • Posted By: iwannadoitall @ 02/13/2008 6:50:41 AM

    Are we missing out on hydro-electric power opportunities... Canada is researching low-river-drop technology that will make energy in most rivers. This stuff is free, reliable with limited maintenance. Where is the US investment. Looking at the US Energy site - they basically wrote this off - their links don't even work.

    • Posted By: DrZook @ 02/13/2008 8:03:51 AM

      There is also huge potential in geothermal power, ocean thermal power, orbiting solar power stations, etc. Many of these options are not promoted, studied or financed because the current energy industries do not want their monopolies to be eroded. Their greed will destroy human civilization and the general public is too busy struggling to get by with their wage-slave employment consuming the foolish toys dangled in front of their faces to look at what is happening and try and change things. The real joke is that those who profit from the greed of oil companies and other entrenched industries are human beings like the rest of us. They have families and children and grand children too. We will all be dying together in a poisoned wasteland. In the meantime, enjoy listening to your iPod while driving your Toyota Corolla to work in an energy wasting building performing your dead end job produced more useless crap for your fellow drones to purchase.

  • Posted By: robrenard @ 02/12/2008 2:56:14 PM

    The destruction native ecosystems around the world occurred well before the current interest in biofuels. Unfortunately, this destruction is an ongoing and accelerating trend and farming for food is its main driver. The future impact of ecosystems destruction can not be attributed solely to farming of biofuels crops.

    • Posted By: DrZook @ 02/13/2008 7:54:48 AM

      No the destruction of native ecosystems is not solely due to biofuel production but clearly biofuel production is accelerating the process. Note that growing crops for biofuel would not be profitable if the U.S. government were not subsidizing corn farmers to grow the crop for that purpose.

  • Posted By: Raph @ 02/12/2008 1:09:27 PM

    Not an easy issue. On the one hand, we're talking about transitioning from a non-renewable to a renewable. But on the other, this transition has to be done right. As far as Algae goes, keep the bells for a little while cause we're not there yet. The answer to our future needs is going to have to be based on using local resources in an integrated manner. Wind, solar, geothermal, wave, and oils all have their share to play... as does EFFICIENCY and CONSERVATION

  • Posted By: Raph @ 02/12/2008 1:08:10 PM

    Not an easy issue. On the one hand, we're talking about transitioning from a non-renewable to a renewable. But on the other, this transition has to be done right. As far as Algae goes, keep the bells for a little while cause we're not there yet. The answer to our future needs is going to have to be based on using local resources in an integrated manner. Wind, solar, geothermal, wave, and oils all have their share to play... as does EFFICIENCY and CONSERVATION

  • Posted By: nawawimohamad @ 02/12/2008 4:07:24 AM

    Go biofuel, make it right.

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