Europe Retreats From Biofuels

A committee in the European Parliament endorsed a plan that calls for 10% of transportation fuels to come from sources such as plants and grains by 2020, but it also calls for a switch to other renewable sources over time.

1 minute read

September 15, 2008, 5:00 AM PDT

By Tim Halbur

"Putting the standards into effect still requires agreement from the full Parliament and European governments. But biofuels manufacturers, worried that their industry is coming under threat, now are seeking to ensure they have a future.

They are stepping up a publicity campaign, warning that alternatives to biofuels like hydrogen and electricity - while they might help to reduce tailpipe pollution - still would require burning of fossil fuels to manufacture.

'Renewable electric cars do not exist,' said Raffaello Garofalo, the secretary general of the European Biodiesel Board. 'People are going to charge the batteries of their cars at home with normal electricity that is predominately of a fossil fuel base. So there is no incentive given to renewables that way - instead you are just increasing the use of electricity full stop.'"

FULL STORY: Europe Lowers Goals for Biofuel Use

Thursday, September 11, 2008 in The New York Times

Energy Transportation Europe Biogas

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