2nd generation biofuels ranked eighth out of 18 climate change strategies by 1350 experts; 1st generation biofuels ranks last

A new study of global climate change decision makers placed first-generation biofuels last in a field of 18 climate change-mitigating strategies, with second-generation fuels placing eighth in the survey. 43 percent of the 1350 climate change experts said that second-generation biofuels had a high potential to lower carbon levels, while 26 percent said 2nd generation biofuels had a low potential. The complete survey results are here.

Emissions background

The Wisconsin Department of Natural Resources said that the blending of ethanol with unreformulated gasoline will cause an increase in nitrous oxide emissions and ground-level ozone smog. Reformulated gasoline has a lower evaporation point, and was traditionally used in Wisconsin until the passage of the Energy Independence and Security Act in December massively increased the ethanol blending activity in the state.

In Washington, the Republican leadership mustered sufficient votes last month to defeat the Warner-Lieberman climate bill, according to sources on both sides of the aisle. Following an extraordinary motion to read the 492-page bill, which took 8-1/2 hours, key Senate Democratic supporter Barbara Boxer of California said that the bill did not have the 60 votes needed to overcome further procedural roadblocks set by Republicans. Republicans says that the cost of the bill is too high, and President Bush has promised to veto the bill in its current form. The legislation requires electric plants and factories to reduce CO2 emissions by 71 percent on s schedule that commences in 2012. The bill would have put a cap-and-trade carbon system in place in the US for the first time.

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