Ever thought about putting in your two sense on the growth of biofuels? Well, here’s your chance. The UK-based Nuffield Council on Bioethics is asking people to submit their views on the potential of biofuels.
In recent months, first generation biofuels have been under fire from groups supporting the position that the net greenhouse gas emissions may not be much better than those of fossil fuels. In addition, environmental impact and food availability has also been questioned as has the role of sustainable biofuels development in developing countries.
“Research into new types of biofuels is looking more promising,” said Professor Joyce Tait, Chair of the Council’s Working Party on biofuels. “Rather than using food crops to produce biofuels, in the future we may be able to use algae, trees, the inedible ‘woody’ parts of plants, and agricultural waste. In addition, scientists are working to increase the yield of biofuel crops and improve the production process, in order to maximize the energy output of land and reduce net greenhouse gas emissions.”
However, the Council notes that before these types of biofuels are brought into wider use, their potential to meet energy needs, support economic development and reduce environmental impact should be considered. In addition, the council will study how government policies and international initiatives will affect biofuel production and research.
The ultimate goal of the council is to solicit peoples’ views on how to promote, provide incentives for and regulate new types of biofuels in ways that are both sustainable and ethical. These results, combined with the Council’s expertise, will be used to advise policy makers. The deadline for comments is March 15, 2010 with the results to be published this winter. Comments can be made by visiting the Council’s website.
American manufacturing giant General Electric is striking some big deals in the alternative energy field, especially wind power.
Yesterday, I told you how electric vehicles were all the rage at this year’s 
Jurors stressed that the Fusion hybrid drove more like a “normal car” than many hybrids, but still had strong fuel efficiency.
As a guy who is from the Upper Midwest, I can tell you that the kind of cold that the Dakotas, Iowa, Wisconsin and Minnesota have experienced the last couple of weeks was a “special” kind of cold. Forty or 50 below zero is Jack-London-Call-of-the-Wild-spit-freezin’-in-mid-air kind of cold. So, it’s no wonder that the cold has put Minnesota’s 5 percent biodiesel mandate … the only cold weather state with a requirement that aggressive … on hold, at least until it warms up.
In today’s 
One key for the giant exhibition, traditionally a showplace for production vehicles, is the addition of a 37,000-sq-ft display area called Electric Avenue. The new area will serve as an expo for 12 manufacturers of electric vehicles, ranging from traditional automakers, such as Nissan and Mitsubishi, to entrepreneurial firms, such as SSI Racing and Saba Motors. Electric Avenue will be sponsored by Dow Chemical Co., which is involved in the development of electric vehicle battery technology.
Company investigators say they have found the cause of the explosion last month at the Imperium Renewables biodiesel plant near Grays Harbor, Washington state.