[Terrapreta] [Gasification] new studies on GHG footprint of biofuels darkens the picture

[jim mason]

note that the interest in forwarding the article is not to say that
this or any other study is correct, but to note that the biofuels
discussion is maturing.  the biofuel calculus is becoming better
stated publically as a systemic question, and not a single point
transaction problem.  european regulation and incentives have recently
been trying to better distinguish and account for the source of
biomass, and its ancillary energy and ghg costs.

in the public energy discussion, biofuels seem to be making progress
in moving out of a single category.  the messy full metabolic cycle,
both natural and synthetic, is coming into better public view.
different biofuel scenarios partake of this in very different ways.

this is all good.  whether someone today says x biofuel is evil or not
isn't very relevant.  what seems relevant to me is the fast
acceleration and deepening of the conversation.  the specifics are
very complicated.  in the end, 90% of what is certain is incorrect.
the best strategy we have is a rich and ongoing conversation.

j



On Feb 7, 2008 7:28 PM,  <MMBTUPR at aol.com> wrote:
>           from          Lewis L Smith
>
>  While I have not read the "new studies" alluded to, in the NYT article, I
> have both petroleum and bioenergy experience going back to 1966. So it is
> very hard for me to believe that all forms of bioenergy have a worse impact
> on global warming than petroleum fuels.
>
>  Moreover, I am highly suspicious of people who make sweeping
> generalizations about bioenergy. Of all the renewables, bioenergy has by far
> the richest variety of inputs, processes and outputs. Moreover, the projects
> are very sensitive to site conditions. So there should be something for
> almost everyone and almost every place. You  just have to do your "homework"
> and come up with a good configuration for your neighborhood, something which
> pontificators seem reluctant to do.
>
>  [ Too much like hard work ? ]
>
>  There are in fact, few currently useful generalizations that one can make
> about bioenergy. One of the few is that if you insist on replacing most US
> gasoline with ethanol derived from corn, you will drive up the price of
> pizza in Chicago, spaghetti in Rome and tortillas in Mexico !  Otherwise I
> would tend to err on the cautious side.
>
>  Cordially.  ###
>
>
> **************
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>
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-- 
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------
jim mason
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