Bio fuel a good idea?

Question

We have in the UK, according to inflation stats, the highest rises in food prices for 17 years. Surely using crops for fuel needs to be reconsidered.

From today 2.5% of our fuel is supposed to be bio based

Answer 1

Relax - Labour knows best.

In fact, this time, they know better than ALL the experts as well as the RSPB, Friends for the Earth, Oxfam and all the other green NGOs who are unanimously arguing Against biofuels.

Answer 2

Biofuel is flawed.

It will cause MORE damage to the environment, and cost more.

Answer 3

nope

Answer 4

bio fuel doesn't always come from cash crops grown for fuel only.  you can also get it from byproducts.

Answer 5

It's a terrible idea, food riots springing up around the world because the least fortunate cannot get enough to eat.

For what? A fuel that barely has enough btu output to justify it's production in the name of a theory.

Answer 6

u cd start by donating ur feaces to the govt..courier from tommr on

Answer 7

Bio Fuels were started to reduce pollution. In many areas it is the law that a certain % of the fuel must be Ethanol. I believe it is 10% in some places and 15% in others. These laws were pushed by our "Environmentalists". Are they wrong again?

"Environmentalists" killed our Nuclear Power Program which could have helped pollution more than all of these other alternatives. Now we find the "Alternatives" are not as simple as we thought. Will we ever stop listening to "Environmentalists" who use their feelings to make dicisions, and start listening to our Engineers who use facts.

If we are to maintain our way of life, Nuclear Power, combined with some Solar, Wind, Geo., etc. is the only alternative we have that will supply enough reliable 24/7 energy at a reasonable cost and allow us to reduce fossil fuels use.

Answer 8

Depends what the real agenda is.

Answer 9

There are a lot of factors to be considered here, beyond the immediate price of fuel and food.

1.  Using more biofuel releases less pollution.  Pollution often causes "invisible" increases in cost for the average individual.  Example include increases in asthma rates and longer recovery times for any disease, especially lung-related issues (including colds).  Even though these minor diseases feel like they aren't significantly impacting your personal productivity, when everyone is considered, they impact the entire economy.

A good example is the American obsession with college basketball pools.  This is estimated to cost millions if not billions of dollars to the overall economy due to lost work time spent calculating potential entries, gossiping, and tracking of the success of entries.  Additionally, the number of people calling in sick to watch games causes economical problems when everyone who does it is considered.  Individually, you cost the economy a few cents.  Gathered together, everyone costs the economy a significant amount.

2.  Using more biofuel reduces dependence on foreign oil sources.  Overall, these sources require your government to stay on good terms with some rather unsavory groups that perpetuate human rights abuses.  Are increases in local food prices worth increases human rights abuses around the world?

3.  These increases in crop prices improve farmer lives.  Many farmers receive government subsidies to keep them functioning.  This could reduce spending on subsidies, increasing the funds available for other services.

It's definitely important to consider food costs when improving the environment.  However, it's also important to consider the overall effects and consequences.  You can't bring this down to JUST environmental effects versus food prices.  You have to include all of the potential consequences.  Perhaps a better idea would be to provide additional subsidies for crops that could be biofuel but are sold as food crops.  Perhaps a better idea would be to subsidize at the level of the distributor, or the grocery store, rather than end the use of biofuels.

Answer 10

Just a little note here. When Herr Diesel invented the diesel engine it was designed to run on peanut oil. What did he know that we have forgotten?

Answer 11

wanna eat tomorrow?  or drive?  your choice.  My guess is you won't do either.