GoodFuels

Obama/Harper meeting column

On the eve of an historic meeting between President Obama and Prime Minister Harper, The Cutting Edge has posted a column written by RFA’s Bob Dinneen and the Canadian Renewable Fuels Association’s president, Gordon Quaiattini. The two men write about North America’s approach to biofuels and the cooperation between the two countries required to encourage the use of renewable fuels in both countries.

As America and Canada look for ways to provide economic opportunity, reduce the impacts of climate change, and develop renewable energy sources, the role of biofuels in the energy plans of both nations is becoming increasingly important. Both nations are investing in alternatives to imported oil. For his part, President Obama is pushing for a comprehensive and ambitious plan to invest in alternative and renewable energy to diversify the North American fuel supply, address climate change, and create green manufacturing jobs and a new green economy. The biofuels industry has been in the forefront of creating green jobs for decades.

The column also talks about various recent studies that support the increased use of biofuels.

In addition, renewable fuels can help reduce harmful greenhouse gas emissions from motor vehicles, a leading contributor to climate change. For instance, newly published work in the Journal of Industrial Ecology notes that ethanol technology today reduces greenhouse gas emissions by up to 59 percent compared to gasoline.  As new technologies are developed and current technologies improved upon, renewable fuel production and use will further help mitigate the dangerous consequences of global climate change.

Finally, based on a number of recent studies, it is clear that renewable fuels using both grains and cellulosic feedstocks are better for the environment than gasoline. A study by Sandia National Laboratories found that by itself the US could produce 90 billion gallons a year by 2030. Together with production in Canada, using the same type of analysis, North American biofuel production will be able to replace a majority of our oil imports.

What do you think Canada and the United States could be doing to help build both country’s renewable portfolio? Leave your thoughts in the comments.