Biofuel Myths vs Facts

U.S. energy consumption is expected to grow 50% percent by 2030 and biofuels must continue to play a significant role to diversify our nation’'s energy sources.

As biofuel critics look to derail the efforts for developing renewable fuels, the US Department of Energy has prepared a new fact sheet that dispels a number of myths that keep being repeated. The full report is available online HERE (pdf).

MYTH: In terms of emissions, biofuels emit the same amount as gasoline or more.

FACT: Biofuels burn cleaner than gasoline, resulting in fewer greenhouse gas emissions, and are fully biodegradable, unlike some fuel additives.

MYTH: Ethanol cannot be produced from corn in large enough quantities to make a real difference without disrupting food and feed supplies.

FACT: Corn-based ethanol is only one source of biofuel. As we address the technical hurdles associated with the efficient and cost-effective production of biofuels, ethanol will increasingly play a more significant role.

MYTH: Ethanol gasoline blends can lower fuel economy and may harm your engine.

FACT: Ethanol blends in use today have little impact on fuel economy or vehicle performance.

MYTH: More energy goes into producing ethanol than it delivers as a fuel.

FACT: Each gallon of corn ethanol today delivers as much as 67% more energy than is used to produce it.

Source: US Department of Energy

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Rep. Herseth Sandlin Questions Oil Execs

The question was rather simple. Citing a story in the Wall Street Journal that said that gasoline costs would be about 15% higher without biofuels, Rep. Herseth Sandlin (SD) asked the oil executives if they agreed.

Watch how the oil execs squirmed their way through answering the question.

Bonus: Towards the end of the clip, Rep. Herseth Sandlin also asked if they had any independent analysis that backed up their claims that corn was increasing food costs versus the cost of energy to produce and transport food. They didn't have anything to share but they had read about it somewhere. They did all agree that increased energy costs were increasing food costs.
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If you can't see the video, click HERE.

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• "Kernels of Truth" Spreads Truth About Food Costs
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• Former CIA Director Warns Foreign Oil is a Threat to America's Economy

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25 x '25 Responds to Time Magazine

More criticism of Time's slam towards biofuels is starting to show up online.

The following response from the 25 x '25 organization.

April 2, 2008

25x'25 Responds to Time Magazine Biofuels Article with Letter to the Editor

Responding to widespread inaccuracies in this week's Time magazine cover story, the 25x'25 National Steering Committee is responding with a letter to the editors of Time expressing disappointment with the questionable characterization of biofuels and their role in the issue of greenhouse gas emissions in "The Clean Energy Scam," by Michael Grunwald. The letter was authored by steering committee member and former Congressman Thomas W. Ewing, who is also the Immediate Past Chairman of the USDA and DOE Biomass Research and Development Technical Advisory Committee. The entire letter follows:

As a former Member of Congress and a leader in a diverse alliance of agricultural, environmental and conservation organizations working together to advance clean energy solutions, I am greatly disturbed with Time magazine's April 7th feature story on biofuels. In this article, Michael Grunwald criticizes biofuels yet offers no alternative to using petroleum to meet our energy needs - much of which comes from the Middle East.

Members of our alliance share the author's anxiety for the continued health of the Amazon rain forest and other "carbon sinks" that nature has provided around the globe. As champions of many forms of land-based renewable energy (biomass, wind energy, solar power, geothermal energy and hydropower, in addition to biofuels), we agree that environmentally sensitive lands should not be exploited in pursuit of renewable fuels.

Unfortunately, the story's message of concern is undermined by misinformation about biofuels and an over-simplified analysis of complex systems. The implication that biofuel production is responsible for the destruction of the Amazon rain forest ignores the reality that ever increasing worldwide demand for food and fiber is the primary cause of land use change in this and other regions. Simply eliminating biofuels will not stop land use changes from occurring, and in countries like Haiti that have already lost their forests, biofuels could help reestablish forests and offer more affordable and sustainable energy options. Similarly, information in the story about a recent study, which claims land-use changes brought about by increased biofuel production are producing more greenhouse gas emissions (Searchinger et al.), only tells half the story. What is missing is that Searchinger's methodologies have been widely questioned by respected biofuel life-cycle analysis researchers such as Michael Wang, with the Center for Transportation Research at the Argonne National Laboratory, who counter that Searchinger et al. used outdated, if not incorrect, data to reach their conclusions.

The story's reference to a UN food expert's dramatic condemnation of biofuel production fails to mention that the UN Food and Agriculture Organization almost immediately distanced itself from the remarks. The head of the UN Food Program recently noted that higher energy costs, erratic weather and low stocks are big factors contributing to the high cost of food around the globe.

Of particular concern is the ready dismissal of emerging technologies that will allow us to produce next generation biofuels from non-food feedstocks sustainably grown on underutilized and marginal lands not suited for food production. Conservation tillage and other agriculture and forestry residue management practices used to produce biomass energy feedstocks can also provide a constant buildup of soil organic carbon. Researchers at Ohio State have concluded that the total potential of carbon sequestration in U.S. soils, counting croplands, grazing lands and woodlands, is nearly 600 million metric tons of carbon, or the equivalent of more than 2,200 million metric tons of carbon dioxide emissions - about 33 percent of total U.S. emissions.

We encourage the editors of Time to contribute to a much-needed discussion of the role renewable resources will play in improving national security and the environment while moving us closer to energy independence. We simply ask that they demand a basic level of accuracy and balance from the stories that they run.

For a full list of talking points relative to the Time article, CLICK HERE.

Source: 25 x 25

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Gas Prices Creep Up Even Higher

The average price of gasoline creeped up even higher this week around the nation.

As of March 31, 2008, the average price for gasoline is $3.29 per gallon, up 3.1 cents from last week and over 58 cents from a year ago.

Diesel prices remain high as well, with an average cost of $396.4 per gallon, up $1.17 cents from last year.

So the $123 billion (oil industry profits) question remains, "Exactly what is the oil industry doing to reduce the pain of higher energy costs for Americans?"

Source: US Department of Energy

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Big Oil's Oily Evasion

Testifying before the US Congress, Big Oil executives were criticized for taking generous tax subsidies and not developing alternative renewable fuels.

It didn't seem to faze the oil industry at all.

And this slippery evasion happened on the very day gas and diesel prices are at record high levels and thousands of truck drivers staged protests and strikes across the country.

Ed Markey, D-MA, chairman of the House Select Committee on Energy Independence and Global Warming said concerning the indifference from the oil industry:

"Americans are hoping that the top executives from the five largest oil companies will tell us that these soaring gas prices are just part of some elaborate hoax. Unfortunately, it's not a joke."

Executives from the major oil companies, including Shell, Chevron, ConocoPhillips and Exxon Mobil were grilled on their record of taking tax breaks and refusing to promote renewable fuels.

But even with industry profits of $123 billion, the oil industry remains indifferent to the economic impact of higher gas prices, the negative environmental impact of fossil fuels and need for energy security and energy independence.

Watch Chairman Markey's opening comments HERE.

Source: House Select Committee on Energy Independence and Global Warming

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Big Oil Companies Embrace Ethanol

Dateline April 1, 2008, Washington D.C.

In a stunning development announced today, major oil companies have joined together to embrace the cleaner-burning American-grown biofuel.

In a press conference held in Washington DC, the CEOs of the major companies spoke about their sudden and dramatic change of heart.

"Why yes, we've tried to kill off competition and keep the American motorist locked to higher-priced, dirty fossil fuels." said Stanley Sinclair, President and CEO of SkyHigh Oil. "But hey, it was business."

After years of fighting alternatives to limited fossil fuels bought from foreign countries, the major oil companies have finally agreed that energy independence is good for America.

"We just can't sit around and fight ethanol all day" one of the CEOs candidly remarked. "We've got to finally do something good for America!"

Besides being good for the American environment and economy, the oil executives also touted ethanol's high performance which has been widely known for year:

• The ethanol in E-10 Unleaded adds two to three points of octane to ordinary gasoline, helping improve engine performance.
• Ethanol helps prevent the build-up of power-robbing deposits in fuel injection systems.
• Ethanol suspends moisture in the fuel systems, eliminating the need for gas tank additives in cold weather.
• Ethanol reduces toxic emissions in engine exhaust, helping keep America’s air cleaner.

The conference concluded with the oil execs discussing plans for returning excess profits to American consumers from the past years.

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What Would You Ask the Big Oil Execs?

As we mentioned yesterday, the Big Oil executives are testifying before the Select Committee on Energy Independence and Global Warming today.

They will be answer questions concerning high oil and gas prices, excess profits, and resistance to alternative fuels .

What would you ask?

Why are gas prices so high? What are they doing to help Americans? Why are we so dependent upon foreign oil?

Post your comments below.

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