NYT: Europe May Ban Imports of Some Biofuels

Carbon efficiency of biofuels targeted in effort to assure "Green" benefits of biofuels.

PARIS — In a sign of growing concern about the impact of supposedly “green” policies, European Union officials will propose a ban on imports of certain biofuels, according to a draft law to be unveiled next week.

If approved by European governments, the law would prohibit the importation of fuels derived from crops grown on certain kinds of land — including forests, wetlands or grasslands — into the 27-nation bloc.

The draft law would also require that biofuels used in Europe deliver “a minimum level of greenhouse gas savings.” That level is still under discussion.

This article shows that not all biofuels are created equal. As we look to create a Renewable Fuel Standard in Wisconsin and in Congress, it is sensible to craft ways to track the carbon efficiency of the fuels being promoted.

Considerable work has been committed to identifying and assigning preference to fuels that are carbon efficient in the production of the fuel itself and in the production of its feedstock. In this way, for example, biodiesel made from algae in a plant that is itself fuelled by biomass would
gain a greater level of public support, while biodiesel made from feedstock grown on deforested rainforest would be withdrawn from consideration.

In our effort to promote biodiesel as a sustainable alternative to petroleum, we must ensure that we preserve maximum carbon efficiency of the product being offered to the consumer. This pushback by the EU against fuels that fall short of this target is to be expected and serves as an incentive to ensure that the biodiesel we produce is truly an efficient harvest of renewable energy that supports a sustainable future for us all.