Peter: Renewable liquid fuels like ethanol and biodiesel are often considered environmentally friendly replacements for fossil fuels.
Groups like the Environmental Consciousness Outreach (ECO) at Tufts are campaigning for increased biofuel use, including biodiesel for the Joey and other Tufts vehicles. Is this a good idea?
Environmental zealots can often be heard touting the potential benefits of producing biofuel. The U.S. government is also on the biofuel bandwagon: Bush signed the 2005 Energy Policy Act and pledged to double production of biofuels by 2012. But despite its many supporters, biofuel production may be causing more harm than good.
Most U.S. ethanol is derived from corn, which is perhaps the worst crop to use. Some experts even believe that corn-based ethanol requires more energy to produce than it generates. Even worse, the United States has provided billions in subsidies for ethanol, artificially lowering its sale price and promoting inefficiency.
Biofuel production could have serious implications for food availability and pricing worldwide. A 2007 report compiled by the International Food Policy Research Institute predicted that based on modest projections of countries' future biofuel plans, calorie availability could decrease by as much as 8 percent in sub-Saharan Africa.
A decrease in land dedicated to food crops will lower supply and raise prices, making food security an issue in places already affected by poverty and food shortages. Those living in poverty in some developing countries are also more likely to spend as much as 50 to 70 percent of their money on food and much less on energy. Should biofuel production increase, millions of the urban poor would suffer. Is that where our tax dollars should go?
Sudeep: Oil prices hit a record high of $101 a barrel on Wednesday. With fossil fuels as the world's main source of energy, this increase has drastic implications in regard to everything from transport costs to the price of electricity. Fortunately, environmental zealots are experimenting with cheaper ways to produce energy. Biodiesel sells for significantly less than petroleum. General Motors is looking to produce cellulose ethanol for a projected $1 per gallon, which is less than half the price of oil. In light of the current oil crisis, biofuels present a remarkable opportunity to cut energy costs and increase energy security.
Biofuels also have the potential to emit fewer greenhouse gases than most fossil fuels. Newer production processes and scientific developments have increased biofuel carbon-savings. With global warming threatening our future, biofuel may be one of the few environmentally sustainable sources of energy we have.
It's true that increased biofuel production has raised the price of food for many in the global South. But this comes with many benefits. Out of the 3 billion people who live in rural areas in developing countries, 2.5 billion are involved in farming, according to the World Bank. Increased food prices can generate wealth for these disenfranchised masses.
Moreover, negative externalities created by biofuels can be easily controlled through effective regulation. Many countries have already placed restrictions on domestic food prices and export levels. Technological progress can also make the production of biofuels more land- and carbon-efficient, reducing both prices and greenhouse emissions. Give biofuel time - it may end up being just what the world needs.
Sudeep Bhatia is a junior majoring in philosophy; Peter Radosevich is a junior majoring in political science. They can be reached at Sudeep.Bhatia@tufts.edu and Peter.Radosevich@tufts.edu, respectively.
