BIOMASS HUB

Writing for Yale Environment 360, C. Ford Runge, McKnight University Professor of Applied Economics and Law at the University of Minnesota, examines the drawbacks of the Obama government’s support of the corn ethanol industry.  The article cites the ecological effects associated with widespread production of biofuels, including “profound effects on water, the eutrophication of our coastal zones from fertilizers, land use, and greenhouse gas emissions.”

The article rightly points out that widespread U.S. support for corn ethanol, both through enacted renewable energy legislation, the renewable fuel standard (RFS2), and tax credits and subsidies, is a testament to the influence of the farm lobby in Washington.  The subsidies can drive up the price of corn and oilseed crops considerably.

Most alarming are the ecological impact of biofuels, primarily due to the volume of water and nitrogen inputs needed to produce the crops.  Water shortages in the West as well as nitrogen’s role in accelerating climate change and the growth of dead zones are well-documented.

Finally, the land acreage required to grow a meaningful supply of biofuels is alarming.  Studies published in Science show that land use change have had a discernible impact on greenhouse gas emissions, raising both concern about securing adequate food supply and exacerbating climate change.

Biofuels [have] made the slow fade from green to brown

The author calls for a freeze on further mandates to slow overinvestment, reductions in tax credits to blenders, and cuts in tariff protections.

While first generation biofuels have many drawbacks, they do hold water as a temporary (and limited) bridge to increased energy security.  While algae and cellulosic technologies develop, the U.S. is under tremendous pressure to stabalize energy costs and shore up security with increased availability of alternatives.  Additionally, while the corn ethanol lobby won critical support under the RFS2, the mandate is limited and emerging low carbon fuel standards should temper excitement within the industry.

The articles is available at Cleantechies.

Image: Flickr/. SantiMB .