Canada questions biofuels

Environment Canada has determined that biofuel usage warrants further study. The organization’s announcement explains, “Liquid biofuels were initially viewed as an overall environmentally beneficial alternative to traditional hydrocarbon-based liquid fuels. However, recent studies in the United States suggest that this might not always be the case.

“Most importantly, little information exists from a Canadian context. Therefore, there is a need for the development and provision of information from a Canadian context to enable Environment Canada scientists to better understand the environmental performance from liquid biofuels production.”

Measuring the green value of biofuel is expected to vary considerably depending on the type of feedstock used, the conversion processes applied, the scale of operations, and the location of the facilities, according to the agency notice.

Measuring the green value of biofuel is expected to vary considerably depending on the type of feedstock used, the conversion processes applied, the scale of operations, and the location of the facilities, according to the agency notice.

Canada’s “National Post” reported, Canada’s Prime Minister Steven Harper has “long touted the benefits of biofuels.” However, “Scientists at Environment Canada have repeatedly warned the government that the impacts may outweigh the benefits.”

According to the agency, “Based on global life cycle assessments of biofuel production, impacts on acidification, land degradation, waste generation, water use and human and environmental impacts were found more often to be unfavorable than favorable.”