Response to NPR analysis on the high price of Oil.
I'm an advocate of bio-fuels. So the current slam on bio-fuels because of it's effect on the world food supply is annoying. It's a good example of a simple-minded cause and effect analysis.
The basic question unasked is what would be the situation if biofuels were not being used. The assumption is that more corn would go to feed the hungry. Yet the reality is that the corn grown to use in bio-fuels would not be grown if it weren't for government subsidies given the farmers to grow the corn for fuel.
The other factor not mentioned is that without biofuels the price of oil would be even higher since the 'demand' would be higher. And higher fuel prices has a direct impact on the availability of food.
I'm not in favor of ethonol, which is not as effective as other forms of bio-fuels. It's continued production is because of a politically motivated bargain between Washington and agribusiness.
The bio-fuels I'm in favor of are bio-diesel made from recycled cooking oil, or waste. I'm also in favor of second generation fuels made from things like switch grass.
Another issue I have is the idea that if we use biofuels then biofuels should be the only solution. Biofuels are not the solution, rather only a part of the solution.
>> The argument agaist bio-diesel is also driven more from a lack of knowing how innovation works than scientific fact. Any new technology needs to be incubated and assimilated before it becomes functional.
edit: 07NOV10
