[Gasification] new studies on GHG footprint of biofuels darkensthe picture

[Roger Samson]

Here is our new 2008 study on GHG's from biofuels in Canada. We rank the
effectiveness of technologies by % reduction and the cost of GHG mitigation.



http://www.reap-canada.com/library/Bioenergy/BIOCAP_REAP_bioenergy_policy_in
centives08Jan18-Final.pdf

The problem of GHG is not going to be solved by paying for producing
renewable fuels. Its going to be solved by paying for CO2 reduction. You can
produce renewable fuels without reducing CO2 (like corn ethanol in the US).
However all biofuels which reduce CO2 effectively are also excellent energy
security strategies.

The whole strategy of CO2 mitigation can be resolved through governments
implementing results based management rather than letting governments
picking technology winners. Sustainable bioenergy systems won't emerge until
effective policy programs are in place. You need to manage for desired
outcomes (both energy security and GHG mitigation). This will avoid the
current approach where technology development has in effect become the focus
with the hoped for happenstance that the new technologies will reduce CO2
and increase energy security. This is proving to be a  failed approach that
is wasteful of taxpayers money and environmentally destructive.
 
In sum ....Its not a technology problem, it's a policy crisis.  


Roger Samson

Executive Director
Resource Efficient Agricultural Production (REAP)-Canada
Box 125 Centennial Centre CCB13
Ste. Anne de Bellevue, QC H9X 3V9
T: (514) 398-7743
T: (514) 398-7972
E: rsamson at reap-canada.com
W: www.reap-canada.com