Two new studies cast doubt on whether ethanol and other biofuels
are an environmentally friendly alternative to fossil fuels in
addressing climate change. The studies, published in the
prestigious journal Science, for the first time take into
account the environmental costs of worldwide pressure to convert
natural areas to cropland to grow corn and other plants for
biofuels. Clearing the land by burning or plowing releases
greenhouse gases, as do refinement and transportation of the
fuel. Moreover, the loss of natural areas, whether rain forest
or scrubland, makes the land less able to absorb carbon. â€œWhen
you take this into account, most of the biofuel that people are
using or planning to use would probably increase greenhouse
gases substantially,â€ said Timothy Searchinger of Princeton
University, lead author of one of the studies. Time to take a
hard look at all those ethanol subsidies in the farm bill.