The Worldwatch Institute and the Sierra Club have produced a report about the future of sustainable biofuel production in the state of Iowa, currently the biggest producer of biofuel in the United States, accounting for for nearly one-third of the country’s ethanol production.
“The state is home to 28 ethanol refineries with a combined capacity of 1.9 billion gallons per year, and to 13 biodiesel refineries with a combined capacity of nearly 260 million gallons a year. Nineteen additional corn-based ethanol refineries are under construction that would enable Iowa to produce another 1.4 billion gallons annually, bringing it to a future ethanol capacity of 2.3 billion gallons,” it says.
The authors put strong emphasis on the term ‘sustainable’ as poorly managed ethanol production can have catastrophic effects on the environment.
Biofuels do have enormous potential. If developed in a sustainable manner, they can improve the environment, promote social justice, and provide a carbon-neutral energy source. Yet they represent only part of the solution to our energy needs. Capturing gains from energy efficiency, improving transport systems, and developing a diverse array of renewable energy sources are other important keys to mitigating climate change and assuring a sustainable energy supply.
The positive potential of biofuels will not be realized unless there is a framework that rewards sustainable production and punishes production that imposes external costs on society and the environment. Without such precautions, biofuels could do as much harm as good. One only has to look to the oil palm takeover in Southeast Asia or the continued clearing of Amazon forests for soy and sugarcane plantations to see the devastation that can arise from poorly considered biofuels production.
The report is recommended read for anyone interested in finding out more about biofuel economy. The full text can be downloaded from here.
