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July 15, 2008
Biofuels have been touted in recent years as a leading solution to many of our nation’s challenges. In December the president signed into law the Energy Independence and Security Act of 2007, including a substantially increased renewable fuels standard. This standard calls for biofuels production to reach 36 billion gallons by 2022, with 21 billion gallons of that amount to be advanced biofuels — those derived from biomass other than corn starch and emitting at least 50 percent less greenhouse gases compared to gasoline or diesel. Congress has strongly supported expanded development of biofuels for energy security and economic benefits and to reduce greenhouse emissions. Not even concerns about biofuels’ effect on global food prices have been a stopper; proponents argued that they could be addressed by advancing nonfood feedstocks like switch grass. Then, in February, Science published two articles that call into question the carbon-neutrality of biofuels. The articles have generated considerable doubt and controversy regarding the true benefits of biofuels...
Click here to download a PDF version of the full article entitled Resolving the Biofuels Dilemma .
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