The Slow Decline Of Biofuels - Corn Stover Inclusion Won't Help
Sunday, April 20, 2014 - 14:10
in Physics & Chemistry
Biofuels - ethanol - were trumpeted as being a renewable alternative to fossil fuels for decades. Finally, in 2005, it got the mandates and subsidies environmentalists insisted were necessary to make inroads against a mature industry like petroleum. Immediately, what scientists knew became evident - they were more resource intensive to produce, were no better for emissions, and subsidies insured there was no reason to get more efficient. Worse, the gold rush of government money drove up corn prices, unfairly impacting the poor. Another paper has confirmed it was a bad idea, no matter how many times Vice-President insisted in the 1990s it would save us. And even using more parts of corn plants won't help. read more