Comments on: Scare Tactics http://www.masstransitmag.com/interactive/2008/02/08/scare-tactics/ Mass Transit's editor, Fred Jandt, speaks weekly on critical issues facing the public transportation industry. Mon, 08 Sep 2008 09:32:55 +0000 http://wordpress.org/?v=2.3.3 By: Clay Schofield http://www.masstransitmag.com/interactive/2008/02/08/scare-tactics/#comment-2772 Clay Schofield Fri, 08 Feb 2008 20:30:21 +0000 http://www.masstransitmag.com/interactive/2008/02/08/scare-tactics/#comment-2772 I think a responsible national policy that addresses the impacts of producing biomass for fuel needs to be in place. I like algae and cellulose for a responsible biomass but, so far, there is no algae lobby to debate the corn lobby or big oil. FYI - The oil yield per unit area of algae is estimated to be 5,000 to 20,000 gallons/acre/year (A look back at the U.S. Department of Energy's Aquatic Species Program: Biodiesel from Algae, United States Department of Energy, July 1998) compared to 50 gallons/acre/year for soybeans. I am a fan of biodiesel however, algae can be used to produce ethanol as well as biodiesel. I think a responsible national policy that addresses the impacts of producing biomass for fuel needs to be in place. I like algae and cellulose for a responsible biomass but, so far, there is no algae lobby to debate the corn lobby or big oil.

FYI - The oil yield per unit area of algae is estimated to be 5,000 to 20,000 gallons/acre/year (A look back at the U.S. Department of Energy’s Aquatic Species Program: Biodiesel from Algae, United States Department of Energy, July 1998) compared to 50 gallons/acre/year for soybeans.

I am a fan of biodiesel however, algae can be used to produce ethanol as well as biodiesel.

]]> By: Peter Van http://www.masstransitmag.com/interactive/2008/02/08/scare-tactics/#comment-2770 Peter Van Fri, 08 Feb 2008 17:43:59 +0000 http://www.masstransitmag.com/interactive/2008/02/08/scare-tactics/#comment-2770 Biofuels will be part of our future renewable energy supply especially when looking at the fact that a substantial percentage of fuel/feed-stock crops do not meet feed quality spec due to environmental affects over the growing/harvesting period. They will however still be acceptable for fuel without substantial energy losses and would be more valuable as fuel than than fodder. The concern is how valuable, which will require some price control intervention as technological advancements such as genetic crop enhancement could create a biofuel crop industry that would endanger affordable foodstocks. The future of alternative fuels, including biofuels are inevitably going to be an important aspect of global trade, politics and ethics. Biofuels will be part of our future renewable energy supply especially when looking at the fact that a substantial percentage of fuel/feed-stock crops do not meet feed quality spec due to environmental affects over the growing/harvesting period. They will however still be acceptable for fuel without substantial energy losses and would be more valuable as fuel than than fodder. The concern is how valuable, which will require some price control intervention as technological advancements such as genetic crop enhancement could create a biofuel crop industry that would endanger affordable foodstocks. The future of alternative fuels, including biofuels are inevitably going to be an important aspect of global trade, politics and ethics.

]]> By: John Florio http://www.masstransitmag.com/interactive/2008/02/08/scare-tactics/#comment-2769 John Florio Fri, 08 Feb 2008 17:38:09 +0000 http://www.masstransitmag.com/interactive/2008/02/08/scare-tactics/#comment-2769 Clearly it is a propagandistic scare tactic. It continues to sadden me to see his uneducated overemphasis on ethanol as the defining characteristic of "Biofuel". Clearly ethanol is not the way to go, at least for North America. A far better choice, easier to produce, easier to consume, and requiring minimal fleet conversion, and actually improving performance, is Biodiesel. Most Americans are unaware of the efficiency of this option, and that B-5 and B-20 (5% and 20% Bio blends) are now common commercially. What is needed is a campaign to change the mindset; eliminate the "stench" of the diesel of old, and show how even small communities could embrace biodiesel production systems as part of a self-sustaining public transit system. I look forward to a world of vast fleets of quiet, clean, biodiesel supplemented minibuses that can truly solve the transit needs of most commuters and day-trippers. Clearly it is a propagandistic scare tactic. It continues to sadden me to see his uneducated overemphasis on ethanol as the defining characteristic of “Biofuel”. Clearly ethanol is not the way to go, at least for North America. A far better choice, easier to produce, easier to consume, and requiring minimal fleet conversion, and actually improving performance, is Biodiesel. Most Americans are unaware of the efficiency of this option, and that B-5 and B-20 (5% and 20% Bio blends) are now common commercially. What is needed is a campaign to change the mindset; eliminate the “stench” of the diesel of old, and show how even small communities could embrace biodiesel production systems as part of a self-sustaining public transit system. I look forward to a world of vast fleets of quiet, clean, biodiesel supplemented minibuses that can truly solve the transit needs of most commuters and day-trippers.

]]> By: Dwight Mengel http://www.masstransitmag.com/interactive/2008/02/08/scare-tactics/#comment-2768 Dwight Mengel Fri, 08 Feb 2008 17:29:52 +0000 http://www.masstransitmag.com/interactive/2008/02/08/scare-tactics/#comment-2768 The article is referenced in the NY Times here: http://www.nytimes.com/2008/02/08/science/earth/08wbiofuels.html?th&emc=th The article is referenced in the NY Times here:

http://www.nytimes.com/2008/02/08/science/earth/08wbiofuels.html?th&emc=th

]]> By: peter fraser http://www.masstransitmag.com/interactive/2008/02/08/scare-tactics/#comment-2767 peter fraser Fri, 08 Feb 2008 17:21:47 +0000 http://www.masstransitmag.com/interactive/2008/02/08/scare-tactics/#comment-2767 Freight locomotives are large polluters and more should be done to reduce emmisssions, not just by lowering the Sulfer content of diesel but utilizing catalytic converters or similar to the exhaust system Freight locomotives are large polluters and more should be done to reduce emmisssions, not just by lowering the Sulfer content of diesel but utilizing catalytic converters or similar to the exhaust system

]]> By: Mark Wall http://www.masstransitmag.com/interactive/2008/02/08/scare-tactics/#comment-2766 Mark Wall Fri, 08 Feb 2008 17:04:10 +0000 http://www.masstransitmag.com/interactive/2008/02/08/scare-tactics/#comment-2766 It is not an issue of "moderation in all things", but rather one of the "home run" mentality. Biofuels produced from corn are not particularly energy efficient. They are not the home run that they have been touted to be, and we are years away from the technology needed to convert waste biomass or grow specialty crops to use as an efficient fuel source. See the January/February issue of Technology Review magazine for an extensive and well-documented article on "The Price of Biofuels". Unfortunately, the "home run" mentality also applies to shifting funds to fix infrastructure. What we need is a more difficult solution, and that is a modification of the fuel tax. It is not an issue of “moderation in all things”, but rather one of the “home run” mentality. Biofuels produced from corn are not particularly energy efficient. They are not the home run that they have been touted to be, and we are years away from the technology needed to convert waste biomass or grow specialty crops to use as an efficient fuel source. See the January/February issue of Technology Review magazine for an extensive and well-documented article on “The Price of Biofuels”. Unfortunately, the “home run” mentality also applies to shifting funds to fix infrastructure. What we need is a more difficult solution, and that is a modification of the fuel tax.

]]> By: Schuyler http://www.masstransitmag.com/interactive/2008/02/08/scare-tactics/#comment-2765 Schuyler Fri, 08 Feb 2008 16:58:02 +0000 http://www.masstransitmag.com/interactive/2008/02/08/scare-tactics/#comment-2765 There is one thing I don't understand about the biofuel corn "crisis" that people are talking about here. (OK, more than, but one principal thing.) For decades, we've been PAYING farmers NOT to grow stuff. Even so, we have had way too much wheat, principally, but also too much corn, too much to put into the elevators, too much to use. So, huh? Now we're short? How can this be? It's not like we've lost the capacity to grow things. We've been artificially squashing production down. Can't we just say "Let'r rip!!" and get all we need? I'd sure like us to stop paying people NOT to do stuff we now need. And put that "extra money" into TRANSIT! There is one thing I don’t understand about the biofuel corn “crisis” that people are talking about here. (OK, more than, but one principal thing.) For decades, we’ve been PAYING farmers NOT to grow stuff. Even so, we have had way too much wheat, principally, but also too much corn, too much to put into the elevators, too much to use. So, huh? Now we’re short? How can this be? It’s not like we’ve lost the capacity to grow things. We’ve been artificially squashing production down. Can’t we just say “Let’r rip!!” and get all we need? I’d sure like us to stop paying people NOT to do stuff we now need. And put that “extra money” into TRANSIT!

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