Long way to go with bio-fuels, U.S.by | 20-01-2013 18:03 |
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  I come upon a bizarre report from New York Times. The Environmental Protection Agency(EPA) fined oil refiners $6.8 million 2012 for not putting cellulosic ethanol in gasoline, even though the product is not existing. Oil refiners were required to blend 6.6 million gallons of cellulosic ethanol-a biofuel made from grasses such as switchgrass, wood chips, the inedible parts of plants and other organic material-in the gasoline intended for cars or pay a fine. But cellulosic ethanol has never been mass produced, there was none to buy. Thus, the refiners paid the fine. This ironic situation has started in 2005, the then U.S. government passed the first Renewable Fuel Standard(RFS) mandating that a minimum of 4 billion gallons of renewable fuels be used in the national transportation fuel supply by 2006, and 7.5 billion gallons by 2012. President Bush even expanded the mandate to 9 billion gallons by 2008 and 36 billion gallons by 2022, which hoped corn starched based ethanol and cellulosic ethanol would do the work. Government gave 1.5 billion fund at companies to develop it. Sadly the companies which received the grand either went bankrupt or failed in R&D which forced EPA to decrease its initial projection significantly. Cost-effective and time-effective resource for the bio-fuel, grass has been accepted in Europe for decades, but Cornell University Professor, Mr.Cherney pointed that unfortunately there is no political lobby group for grass in U.S. Any new alternative energy industry has no lobbying power behind at current. Another problem is that the automotive industry has raised serious questions about blending ethanol in gas fuel would damage the cars. It is disappointing to know that the U.S. government's effort of 'Green Dream' has been not achieving its goal yet. Also the conflict between industries-car industry, corn industry, gas industry, other plants related industry-and the politics are hindering the green movement forward. At least, by mandating the regulation, the fact that U.S. government is trying to solve the energy situation would leave a hope for the future. Image: Google image Source: The New York Times, the Cornell Univ.press, the web.etc. |
