The Juxtaposition of the Use of Biofuels in the Race to Reduce Carbon Emissions
By Bobbie Sue Fenton
In this paper, I wish to address how biofuels, looked at by some as the ‘savior’ in reducing carbon emissions and reducing the use of fossil fuels, has caused more problems than they have solved. The plan is to use a fair and balanced argument to prove my viewpoint. I chose this topic, coming from an agricultural background, because of my intense dislike for biofuels in not only the way that they have harmed the environment, cost more money to the average taxpayer to produce than they save, but also for the personal expense incurred as a direct result of the use of biofuels in both gasoline and biodiesel engines on our farm.
Biofuels – what …show more content…
Biofuel is made from corn and soybeans which, according to this report, come with a very high price tag for transportation costs which limit transportability to within a 50-mile radius of harvesting, and preventing biorefineries from operating with the benefits of economies of scale. However, a National Laboratory in Idaho came up with a way to change this by producing the biomass needed to produce biofuel on site that it can be transported and processed in large capacity biorefineries which aren’t limited by the 50-mile radius. In this way, transporting by train and barge could be possible as well as by truck, which was considered the only means of transport for unprocessed biomass. One of these bio refinery’s, Bunge-Ergon, is located in Vicksburg on the Mississippi River and another company, KIOR, Inc., located a plant in at the Port of Columbus Mississippi with plans to add more in this state. Some of the other problems with producing biofuels, according to this document, are natural disasters such as hurricanes, tornados, drought, excessive rain, earthquakes, and flooding. Some manmade risks include oil spills and blackouts. All of these hazards which result in chain supply disruption can trigger substantial
By Bobbie Sue Fenton
In this paper, I wish to address how biofuels, looked at by some as the ‘savior’ in reducing carbon emissions and reducing the use of fossil fuels, has caused more problems than they have solved. The plan is to use a fair and balanced argument to prove my viewpoint. I chose this topic, coming from an agricultural background, because of my intense dislike for biofuels in not only the way that they have harmed the environment, cost more money to the average taxpayer to produce than they save, but also for the personal expense incurred as a direct result of the use of biofuels in both gasoline and biodiesel engines on our farm.
Biofuels – what …show more content…
Biofuel is made from corn and soybeans which, according to this report, come with a very high price tag for transportation costs which limit transportability to within a 50-mile radius of harvesting, and preventing biorefineries from operating with the benefits of economies of scale. However, a National Laboratory in Idaho came up with a way to change this by producing the biomass needed to produce biofuel on site that it can be transported and processed in large capacity biorefineries which aren’t limited by the 50-mile radius. In this way, transporting by train and barge could be possible as well as by truck, which was considered the only means of transport for unprocessed biomass. One of these bio refinery’s, Bunge-Ergon, is located in Vicksburg on the Mississippi River and another company, KIOR, Inc., located a plant in at the Port of Columbus Mississippi with plans to add more in this state. Some of the other problems with producing biofuels, according to this document, are natural disasters such as hurricanes, tornados, drought, excessive rain, earthquakes, and flooding. Some manmade risks include oil spills and blackouts. All of these hazards which result in chain supply disruption can trigger substantial