Downside of Palm Oil "Only a few years ago, oil from palm trees was viewed as an ideal biofuel: a cheap, renewable alternative to petroleum that would fight global warming. Energy companies began converting generators and production soared. ADVERTISEMENT Now, it's increasingly seen as an example of how well-meaning efforts to limit climate-changing carbon emissions may backfire. Marcel Silvius, a climate expert at Wetlands International in the Netherlands, led a team that compared the benefits of palm oil to the ecological harm from destroying virgin Asian rain forests to develop lucrative new plantations. His conclusion: "As a biofuel, it's a failure.""
Yup. Biofuels need to be produced from ag, forestry, and municipal waste. Not primary sources like corn and sugar cane. Fortunately, the price spike in the cost of corn is starting to put make people question it. The profit margins for ethanol have plummeted in the last year because the price of oil dropped and the price of corn doubled.
<div class='quotetop'>QUOTE(tripp @ Apr 1 2007, 06:33 PM) [snapback]416115[/snapback]</div> How about if we use all of the BS from FHOPs? That ought to make all of the biofuel we need. Tom
<div class='quotetop'>QUOTE(qbee42 @ Apr 1 2007, 06:04 PM) [snapback]416180[/snapback]</div> Yes, but the stench is overpowering. :lol:
<div class='quotetop'>QUOTE(qbee42 @ Apr 1 2007, 07:04 PM) [snapback]416180[/snapback]</div> With biofuels, there was a report on this topic and that growing biofuels will lead to food shortages in some areas. They based this on the fact that farmers will receive higher premiums for biofuels than they would for food products. On an environmental level, I don't believe that this alone is the answer to the problems that we are inflicting on our globe due to their land use footprint, irrigation requirements and the energy that's required to refine and bring these products to market.
It is interesting, though, how much the rising cost of corn has cut into the profits for ethanol. When corn was $2 bushel and oil was $60 barrel they were making $1.06 profit per gallon. Then the price of corn went to $4/bushel and oil moved to $50/barrel and they were making $0.03 per gallon. Eventually, biofuels will be made from ag, forestry, and municipal waste. Making it from food won't be profitable because soaring feedstock costs will erase their profits. The key is to get these other approaches competitive as fast as possible.
