Report Questions Focus on Biofuels in Energy Policy

[wdb]

It's about time! Their two primary targets are burning corn in cars (US and Europe) and burning wood pellets instead of coal (Europe).

http://www.nytimes.com/2015/01/29/sc...-biofuels.html

Western governments have made a wrong turn in energy policy by supporting the large-scale conversion of plants into fuel and should reconsider that strategy, according to a new report from a prominent environmental think tank.

Turning plant matter into liquid fuel or electricity is so inefficient that the approach is unlikely ever to supply a substantial fraction of global energy demand, the report found. It added that continuing to pursue this strategy — which has already led to billions of dollars of investment — is likely to use up vast tracts of fertile land that could be devoted to helping feed the world’s growing population.

[freebeard]

Turning plant matter into liquid fuel or electricity is so inefficient that the approach is unlikely ever to supply a substantial fraction of global energy demand, the report found.

I haven't read the report...yet; but at least this part is likely wrong. Cool Planet may not have the answer but they show the way. 115octane gasoline is a byproduct of a process that produces Terra Preta. I believe this is our best hope (along with seeding the oceans with iron) to sequester carbon from the atmosphere.

[wdb]

NYTimes op-ed piece criticizes ethanol fuel policy.

http://www.nytimes.com/2015/03/10/op...l-rip-off.html