So has Mark Jacobsen at Stanford University also found significant gains for ethanol? His research and testimony to Congress three or so years ago strongly indicated that ethanol was a wash for air pollutants and greenhouse gases. Or has CARB been unduly influenced by the industry? It occurs to me that CARB’s finding contradicts the push to end the federal ethanol subsidy.

 

Purdue is a land grant institution with significant financial commitments to agriculture. The researchers there may still have their academic freedom, but I question whether that’s the case at Iowa’s land grant institution.

 

 

Leland Searles

Air Quality Program Director

Iowa Environmental Council

521 E. Locust St., Suite 220

Des Moines, Iowa 50309

515-244-1194 ext. 204

www.iaenvironment.org

www.facebook.com/Iowa.Environmental.Council

 

About the Iowa Environmental Council:

The Iowa Environmental Council actively works in public policy to provide a safe, healthy environment for all Iowans. We focus on public education and coalition building to give Iowans a voice on issues that affect their quality of life.  For more information contact the Iowa Environmental Council or visit www.iaenvironment.org. 

 

Please do not print this email unless it is absolutely necessary. Spread environmental awareness.

 

From: Iowa Discussion, Alerts and Announcements [mailto:[log in to unmask]] On Behalf Of Jim H Clark
Sent: Wednesday, December 08, 2010 11:52 AM
To: [log in to unmask]
Subject: Re: biomass, corn stover, and the new wave of synthetic biology

 

The Sunday, November 28 DM Register Metro "Green Fields: Iowa Ag and Energy Report" by Philip Brasher and Dan Piller included an article:  "California rethinks ethanol regulations".  Good news for ethanol producers....The California Air Resources Board (CARB) is moving toward revising its analysis of the impact of corn ethanol on GHG emissions.  If adopted it would assure that corn ethanol from the Midwest could meet CA's new low-carbon fuel standard which takes effect in January.  CARB has previously estimated that corn ethanol resulted in as many if not more emissions as gasoline....Research at Purdue Univ. convinced the CARB staff that landuse impacts of corn ethanol had been overestimated--at issue is whether or not it leads to more land being converted to cropland.

----- Original Message -----

From: [log in to unmask]">Searles, Leland

To: [log in to unmask]">[log in to unmask]

Sent: Monday, December 06, 2010 2:32 PM

Subject: Re: biomass, corn stover, and the new wave of synthetic biology

 

I read this as yet more soil erosion and degradation, and yet more anhydrous production and use, with the net effect of turning a natural and complex system (soils) into an artificial and simple process for human benefit. I’ve gone so far as to suggest that these are major concerns to a big Iowa energy company that is investigating biomass and other means to reduce gases and pollutants from coal.

 

Leland Searles

From: Iowa Discussion, Alerts and Announcements [mailto:[log in to unmask]] On Behalf Of Donna Buell
Sent: Monday, December 06, 2010 2:29 PM
To: [log in to unmask]
Subject: biomass, corn stover, and the new wave of synthetic biology

 

Interesting discussion of the future of biomass -- be sure to listen to the audio discussion... see below.

Donna

 

From: Bruce Hamilton <[log in to unmask]>

Date: December 6, 2010 12:47:20 PM CST

Subject: Interesting interview on biomass, corn stover, and the new wave of synthetic biology that poses risk to biodiversity with GM microbes to break down cellulose

 

 

 

 

It's bio-massive
Ethanol is dead; all hail plant-based synthetic gasoline! [PODCAST]
In Tom Philpott's latest podcast, he talks to Jim Thomas of ETC Group, his go-to source for cutting-edge information on the machinations of global agribusiness. Thomas blew Philpott's mind on the topic of ethanol and the "new biomass economy." Listen to the interview.

 

 

 

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