Two studies conclude that biofuels are not so green after all
http://www.iht.com/articles/2008/02/07/healthscience/biofuel.php
Honestly, I am not a bio-fuel hater by any means. I just find it extremely interesting that this is news in Europe, and big news at that (since the EU is requiring a percentage of energy coming from bio-fuels in the future). I would REALLY like to see a cooperative effort of our state to look at what progressive bio-energy projects are happening in the Nordic countries, primarily Finland, Norway, and Sweden, when it comes to bio-energy from wood. How about some sort of partnership with a region in one of those countries? I know that they are really ahead of the game. I would not mind doing some initial research on that. I really have a feeling that this whole corn and soybean thing is going to turn around (not be as popular and/or lose some steam) in the near future (next five years or so) and we need to be already pushing our greater region (maybe northern WI or NW WI) as a source for renewable and indigenous bio-fuel. I can only imagine that this would help stimulate some of the smaller local economies as well. The local organic cherry on top would be to limit (or eliminate) dollar leakage from these regions and have the industries that profit from this be local.
Quick note update. I just read on the blog below that yesterday 10 of the most prominent environmental scientists in the U.S. sent a letter to President Bush urging him to re-think U.S. biofuel policy. Interesting.
2 comments:
I'm in.
I also agree that forest stewardship has potential. We have the hardest working national forests in the country (in terms of wood production/extraction) and at the same time have paper companies closing or moving out, among other things, so there is plenty of potential...
And you don't need to be a biofuel lover or hater to look at these studies with realism, it is our future after all. There are no easy answers, and some people are making corn ethanol look like an easy answer... it's not.
The partnership thing is a great idea. At least looking into what they are doing there. I think a lot of Finland and Sweden are forests. Also, don't they do a lot with bio-energy? I would really like to know how a private landowner can get into the market of selling wood for heating. I would guess they are doing it there. Are we doing it here?
About that castle thing in Sweden. That is really amazing. Thanks for sharing that. I do not know much about cows and such, but it seems like a great idea. I also liked the discussion. My wife and daughters thinks I am crazy, but I am starting to put ice in our fridge.
Greg A.
Lincoln County
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