We mentioned the now growing complaint about biodiesel production harming the rainforests a couple of weeks ago. It seems everyone is picking up on this issue and the "greens" now say we're dumping our problems on third world countries. Is there anything short of rolling back civilization to the dark ages that will satisfy the greens?
The issue of increasing biodiesel production causing problems with rainforests is one where only costs are acknowledged without consideration of benefits. More biodiesel use decreases harmful emissions and decreases dependence on petroleum, definite benefits. Biodiesel production does not have to result in rainforest clearing although it could, not good. The rapid, or should I say explosive, growth in biodiesel recently, leading to fears of rainforest destruction, is itself fueled by numerous biodiesel incentives put in place by various governments as well as legislation requiring the use of biodiesel in government fleets and also requiring biodiesel at the pump in countries like the U.K.
As we also said here before, incentives are not necessary in the biodiesel market because it distorts the natural tradeoffs that should otherwise be guiding our choice of fuels. Let the market work. Government incentives work on the idea that the perfect solution to a problem has been identified and all we have to do is force its adoption. Biodiesel is no more a perfect solution than any other fuel or energy source, it is one among many with pros and cons of its own. Politicians follow poll numbers and vocal interest groups and have no real idea whether what they are forcing by legislation is truly good or bad long term, or even short term.
High prices and the need to reduce emissions by themselves can better guide our choices about which fuels or energy sources are best, far better than any politician or interest group, no matter how sincere they may be. No one person or group has sufficient knowledge to decide which "solution" should be forced with incentives and legislation.
Want to protect the rainforests and make sure biodiesel plays its proper role in our total energy picture? Let the market work.
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The current web wide attack by so called ‘greens’ against biodiesel and biofuels is just unsupported hype and propaganda. I have found only one believable article on the subject. Brazil is currently experiencing a problem of excessive clearing of forest to grow soybeans. BUT the soybeans are being sold to China for FOOD – not for conversion to biodiesel.
You are correct in your assessment – there is no solution for some ‘greens’ except living off brown rice grown in totally organic conditions – totally ‘off grid’. But only about 1% of them are doing it. The other 99% are living just like the rest of us – driving all sorts of vehicles, burning just as many gallons of fuel as the rest of us, using petroleum based plastics, using air-conditioning by the ton, and on and on . . .
The world cannot and will not live without energy – liquid fuels are needed or much of the world would starve in a few weeks. Liquid fuels are mandatory or we’ll have to move back to caves.
Jatropha Curcas plantations – small and large are being pursued in a big way around the world especially in India and Africa. Jatropha is a oil seed bearing shrub / bush that can live up to 50 years or so – producing oil seed as feed stock for biodiesel all those years starting before year two.
Jatropha is being planted on marginal lands, semi-arid / semi tropical and will provide a million billion tons of carbon dioxide consuming leaves to help relieve the carbon dioxide excess in our atmosphere (heard of global warning anyone?). And at the same time – Jatropha leaves breath oxygen back into the atmosphere. Jatropha is NOT being planted on burned downed rain forest – quite the opposite – it is being planted on near barren land – marginal soils – not in competition for food products.
Cordially – Joe-in-Texas
joegreene@terrasolbiofuels.com
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