[Vwdiesel] Biodiesel under Attack

[S. Shourds]

Stephen Kraus wrote:

>Saw this on slashdot:
>
>5 Year Freeze on
>Biofuels<http://www.guardian.co.uk/commentisfree/story/0,,2043724,00.html>
>
>Comment away!
>  
>
I'd not call it an attack as a statement of questions that have not been 
answered.  While I am very hopeful of the promise of biofuels, it's not 
plug-and-play.  People want to keep driving at 12 mpg like nothing's 
happened.  We in this crowd have, by and large, made one of the primary 
concessions that efficiency is a virtue (whether for economic or 
environmental benefits).  The vast majority of bioDiesel producers I've 
heard from on the list are using WVO with emphasis on "Waste" which 
serves the dual purpose of removing material from the wastestream and 
keeping some carbon in the ground.  As much as my corn and soybean 
growing family is enjoying the terrific new crop prices (there are also 
bioDiesel and ethanol plants going up within 15 minutes of the family 
farm), life's basically a zero-sum game.  Using virgin feedstock 
en-masse will without question alter the agriculture markets, raise food 
prices, and economic factors are already causing ground to be cleared 
for more intensive agriculture. 

I like the ideas coming down the pike of new biomass feedstocks but 
they're not here yet. Even when they get there, it's not the simple 
answer we all wish it were.  It's one of many answers we will have to 
adapt to and I'm fine with that.  We're tremendously innovative people 
and capable of amazing change when called to.  That's why I enjoy the 
discussions on this list.  Nice to be near the cutting edge. 

-Shalyn

from his soapbox near the back end of the environmental industry.