Bio-fuels, the magic elixer

Yeah, right. Before this goes much further, take a look at the facts. The truth is solar and wind are the only safe, renewable, unlimited and environmentally benign sources of energy.

Biodiesel enthusiasts have accidentally invented the most carbon-intensive fuel on earth

Extensive production of biofuel crops, such as oil palms, could destroy remaining areas of rainforest and bring about a new cycle of worldwide intensive agriculture involving vast applications of artificial fertilisers and pesticides, and requiring enormous water resources, said Professor Crane, who as the head of Kew Gardens is the world's leading plant scientist.


In Indonesia, Malaysia, Canada and elsewhere, forests are being slashed for new energy-yielding crops or other unconventional fuels. In India, environmental activists say, water tables are dropping as farmers try to boost production of ethanol-yielding sugar.

"Let's be brutally frank: [The push for alternative fuels] is going to cause significant changes for the environment," says Sean Darby, an equities analyst and expert on alternative energy companies at Nomura International in Hong Kong. He is most worried about the strain on water resources caused by accelerated crop production. Water, he says, is "just as precious" as oil.

And I've posted often lately about global warming and diminishing water sources. Bio-fuels will exacerbate those two problems.

Biofuels may be hazardous to your car’s health
Experts warn of worn-out gaskets, long-term damage to vehicle engines

"Climate change and biodiversity loss are among our most pressing challenges," added John Hontelez, EEB Secretary General. "We must urgently reduce the greenhouse gas emissions that drive climate change. But we must tackle climate change and biodiversity loss in tandem. Biofuels are only part of the solution. Unless we produce biofuels sustainably, we’ll end up with more energy-intensive and environmentally damaging farming practices and hasten the degradation of our ecosystems."

Greenpeace today warned about the spectre of increased forest-related calamities in Indonesia, where plantations for palm oil are expected to expand rapidly into forest areas due to demands for bio-fuels in the European Union. The Indonesian government’s recent approval of palm oil operations in large areas of Papua and Kalimantan closely followed the EU directive of increasing Europe’s bio-fuel use.

Being the lazy bastard I am, I'll stop with the links. I'm sure you get the idea by now.

If there's money to be made, people will go for it whether it means destroying the rain forests or not. Bio-fuels seem like a good idea until you do the homework.