Unintended Consequences

Why do we like biofuels? Because they are a substitute for oil. Because oil will run out, maybe sooner, maybe later, but someday it will all be gone. There aren’t any gasoline bushes growing out there.

But we can grow plenty of algae, or jatropha, or soy, or even turkeys – all of which can be converted to fuel. However, that only solves one of the two big issues we’re facing today. Biofuels address our energy needs, but what about the environment?

Well, since biofuels are designed to replace gas in an internal combustion engine, they don’t really do much for that side of the column. Cars running on biodiesel still generate carbon-dioxide. Well, at least we’re dealing with one of the problems, so don’t we come out ahead?

Well, maybe not. According to an article in Science Express this month, producing biofuels can significantly increase the amount of carbon dioxide in the atmosphere, hastening global warming. Apparently, converting land use to grow food crops to biofuel source crops will sharply increase CO2 emissions. Converting natural areas (you know, those beautiful pristine places out in the wilds) is even worse.

Oh, there’s one more thing. The fertilizer needed to grow biofuel source crops will generate huge amounts of nitrous oxide, which is even worse for the atmosphere than carbon dioxide.

"Large greenhouse gas emissions from these indirect land-use changes are unintended consequences of a global biofuels program; consequences that add to the climate-change problem rather than helping to solve it," the report found.

So, let’s go back to where we started this conversation? Why do we like biofuels? Maybe I’m not as certain as I was before.