[Greens-Media] Premier’s ethanol fever dangerous without environment sustainability fuel standards

[Nic Clyde]

Media Release from Ian Cohen MLC                                       
                                            10th April 2008
 
Premier’s ethanol fever dangerous without environment sustainability
fuel standards
 
Without a framework such as California’s Low Carbon Fuel Standard in
place to guide the production of biofuels, NSW risks losing an
opportunity to cut global warming pollution and minimise environmental
damage from the manufacture and use of alternative transport fuels.
 
“It’s disappointing that the current ethanol fuel debate in NSW
does not include a discussion on how to develop an accounting system
that measures the emissions profile of fuels and their environmental
sustainability,” said Upper House Greens MP Ian Cohen.
 
“Equally disappointing is the lack of progress towards a low-carbon
fuel standard. Standards are necessary to ensure that only the biofuels
that provide clear environmental benefits are rewarded in the
marketplace.
 
“It’s irresponsible for the Premier to blithely state that
‘biofuels are good for the environment’, particularly when his
planning minister has just approved a plant at Port Botany that wants to
manufacture biodiesel exclusively from imported palm oil. 
 
“Palm oil is a very controversial feedstock, the production of which
destroys rainforest biodiversity and produces carbon dioxide emissions
often in excess of the fossil fuels it displaces. 
 
“Ethanol is not necessarily a silver bullet. According to the USA’s
Union of Concerned Scientists, ‘corn ethanol, depending on how it is
processed, can produce higher emissions than gasoline or cut emissions
by 50 percent’[1].
 
“Developing an environmental fuel standard is crucial if the emerging
alternative transport fuels industry is to help or hinder efforts to
solve the climate issue and protect biodiversity.
 
“I also take issue with Tony Kelly’s comments about the food versus
fuel debate being ‘irrelevant in NSW’. Bio-En Australia are
currently planning an 80 million litre ethanol plant at Casino fuelled
by 200,000 tonnes of corn, wheat, sorghum and barley.
 
 
“The CSIRO pointed out last year that ‘there will be increasing
competition with grains for food, and with feedgrain for the livestock
industry if the Australian ethanol industry expands to its planned
production capacity and beyond’[2], said Mr Cohen.
 
Further Information: Ian Cohen: 0409 989 466 or Nic Clyde: 0417 742
754

[1]Biofuels – An important Part of a Low-Carbon Diet, Union of
Concerned Scientists, November 2007, pg 2.

[2]Biofuels in Australia – issues and prospects, CSIRO, May 2007, pg
13

Nic Clyde
Adviser, Greens MLC Ian Cohen
Macquarie Street, Sydney, 2000
Tel: +61-2-9230 3305, Fax: +61-2-9230 2267
Mobile: 0417 742 754
Web: www.iancohen.org.au