Green | December 12, 2008 | 15 comments

Biofuel death knell claimed

source: http://www.stuff.co.nz/4791408a6160.html

Image
covelogibbs
"A Biodiesel manufacturer claims government moves to axe compulsory use of biofuels spells the end of the industry in New Zealand including his plans to employ 46 extra staff at a new plant.

Tom McNicholl, managing director of Auckland-based BioDiesel Oils NZ, said he would mothball a nearly-built Waikato plant that would have produced 60 million litres a year of tallow-based diesel after the Government confirmed it would scrap compulsory biofuel requirements next week."

Question: if BioDiesel Oils NZ's biodiesel was tallow-based, does that mean that it was sustainable and not impacting food supply?
  1. groups:
    News and Politics,   Green
  2. tags:
    News and Politics,  Green,  World,  Climate Change,  14 more
  3.     
    |

15 comments // Biofuel death knell claimed

  • Commentor
  • justright
    • 0
      justright  

    • Our world needs to move away from combustion engines, other than thoughts that burn clean burning fuels like hydrogen, if we wish to have a less polluted future.

    • 3 years ago
  • Commentor
    • 0
      Commentor  
    • justright:

      maybe but hydrogen power is really not so workable
      its too hard to contain any container for hydrogen leaks so it has to be made on demand

      Metal hydrides are the best for this though a direct alcohol fuel cell may be the best solution.

      "Plug in" hybrids are most likely the best - charge them up from the grid for local commuting and use some sort of fuel for longer range travel

    • 3 years ago
  • covelogibbs
    • 0
      covelogibbs  
    • Image

    • Most biodiesel in the US is made from soybeans that are probably genetically modified and sprayed with pesticides and chemical fertilizers. This is bad for the environment. It shouldn't be eaten. It shouldn't be fed to animals. It shouldn't be made into biofuel. It shouldn't be grown.

      If it were grown organically, with all farm equipment and systems running on it's own fuel or alternative energy sources, that would be sustainable.

      But then you would have to look at the fact that it is a food crop and displacing food for fuel seems questionable in a world where people are starving.

      Corn and soybeans are linked in the sense that if more people are growing corn because the price has gone up due to ethanol production, less people will grow soybeans. People may suffer because of this. Making ethanol from corn is a terrible idea. Jerusalem artichokes have potential as do algae and cellulosic ethanol.

      The world can feed itself if we make it a priority globally and switch to sustainable practices. A crop like cannabis sativa, hemp, could be a big factor. It's uses are numerous and it doesn't need a lot of pesticides. It may be time for another "Hemp For Victory" campaign, this time on a global scale.

      Until we make biofuel from a sustainable, non food source, the best biodiesel is made from reclaimed restaurant waste oil.

    • 3 years ago
  • Commentor
  • Wrabon
    • 0
      Wrabon  

    • We need to build and fuel our cars from hemp like Henry Ford intended.

      Google: Henry Ford Hemp Car

      If you didn't already know.

    • 3 years ago
  • justright
  • simplecj
    • 0
      simplecj  
    • Image

    • ARTICLE: "If Corn Is Biofuels King, Tropical Maize May Be Emperor"

      ........

      Corn has A LOT do do with biofuels, including biodeisel!

    • 3 years ago
  • kcfoxie
  • covelogibbs
    • 0
      covelogibbs  
    • Image
    • kcfoxie:

      Is this more what you had in mind?

      I chose the picture of the child in the corn to get people's attention and because
      I liked it. I thought it might spark
      some conversation about biofuel in
      general and Ethanol
      production as well.

    • 3 years ago
  • covelogibbs
  • Commentor
  • simplecj
    • 0
      simplecj  

    • They need to convert over to make boifuel from hemp, not food. Using food for our cars instead of feeding the hungry is a bad bad idea!

    • 3 years ago
  • idealist
    • 0
      idealist  

    • theres many solutions out there, but big oil rather get benifits then hand it over the revenue stream.
      they rather make money now then have there children live in a clean world.

    • 3 years ago
more from Green:
from the community

top videos