Biofuels May Cause More Environmental Harm Than Gasoline

Science Jeanette Walsh
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A study published in the August 25th edition of the Climate Change Journal by the University of Michigan is causing a ripple in the fuel industry. The study claims that more carbon dioxide is released using biofuels than gasoline.

Since its inception, biofuels have been pegged as more environmental friendly because the assumption was that they emitted little or no carbon dioxide.

The study incorporates crop growth and tailpipe emissions that are crucial in the cultivating of crops used to produce biofuels. It also concluded that emissions during that time frame only absorbed 37% of biofuel development from 2005 through 2013, directly contradicting the previous studies that claimed that using biofuels emitted less amounts of carbon than gasoline.

To calculate the carbon emissions, researchers employed the Annual Basis Carbon technique, which counts carbon emissions by using the chemistry of the area where it is generated which is different from what the lifecycle analysis states; that it incorporates both the stock and flow essence of the carbon cycle.

The United State government, California’s Low-Carbon Fuel Standard and the Renewable Fuel Standard have supported the promotion of this type of fuels for use in transportation. In recent years the use of biofuels and other products, like ethanol, has tripled from just 4.2 billion gallons as at 2005 to a new high of 14.6 billion gallons in the year 2013.

This controversial study was released shortly after it was reported that the EPA hasn’t issued any report to Congress since 2011 concerning the environmental impact of biofuels based on the Renewable Fuel Standard. Under the Federal law the EPA are under obligation to provide regular reports after a three year period. The EPA has said it will release a report to Congress by the end of 2017.