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GM boss describes UN research on biofuel as 'shockingly misinformed'

 
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GM boss describes UN research on biofuel as 'shockingly misinformed'

GM boss describes UN research on biofuel as 'shockingly misinformed'

As carmakers around the world look for alternatives to burning fossil fuels to power their future cars one proposition that’s quickly gaining traction is the roll-out of cars that run on biofuels sourced from crops. One of the most vocal carmakers backing the mass production of biofuel is GM, which plans to have most of its vehicles biofuel capable within the next decade.

However, a number of charities as well as leading science groups and even the United Nations claim the production of biofuel will add more carbon-dioxide to the air than would be reduced by the amount adsorbed by crops used to make the fuel. An even bigger problem, according to researchers, is that biofuel production will cause food prices to rise.

GM’s CEO Rick Wagoner has come out and dismissed the UN research linking biofuel production to rising food prices as “shockingly misinformed,” reports the Financial Times.

“If you look at what’s causing higher [bio]fuel prices, the cost of corn is a very small part of that,” Mr Wagoner said at a trade show in China.

According to the UN, increased competition for land to create biofuel, as well as crop failures and the falling dollar has led to a spike in world food prices. Wagoner disputes these claims, saying “oil prices are a far bigger driver of higher food prices than ethanol.”

Wagoner is not alone in his backing of increased biofuel production. New laws in the UK mandate that all fuels for cars and trucks must have some biofuel content and the European Union has also made laws that will see the introduction of fuel blended with 10% biofuel come into effect by 2020.



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Comments (7)

  1. By chris Posted: 4/21/2008 9:50am PDT

    hes got a point. saying that the very small amount of fuel being sourced from bio fuel is not the reason why there are increasing food costs. rising fuel prices will raise the price of food, as well as the falling dollar which is the bench mark for the market value of so many products. the dollar goes down, the price of fuel goes up. the value is still the same, but the price just goes up. other currencies trade at higher amounts, but with the american economy being so shaky right now, everything costs more everywhere, cause people are scared. plain and simple.
     
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  2. By Germandude Posted: 4/21/2008 10:24am PDT

    Why does everyone think that ethanol is the solution to all of our problems? It's neither going to keep our wallets from being drained nor save the planet from being overheated.
     
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  3. By xtx Posted: 4/21/2008 12:45pm PDT

    Increased production of biofuel crops also has the adverse effect of pushing up food prices as land available for food crops is reduced. As UK Prime Minister Gordon Brown pointed out last week, the government itself is concerned biofuels are pushing up food costs yet the law still passed.
     
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  4. By Solo Racer Posted: 4/21/2008 2:04pm PDT

    E85 is more expensive than premium gasoline when the lower mileage is factored.
     
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  5. By BLK_LTZ Posted: 4/21/2008 2:16pm PDT

    I just filled my truck up with E85 for $2.59 a gallon. $1.10 less than regular 87. Yup this E85 stuff is just terrible!
     
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  6. By Gus Posted: 4/21/2008 3:19pm PDT

    People, look up "cellulosic ethanol" and then maybe you'll understand.

    And besides, the world wouldn't have such a damn food problem if people who don't have much food would stop popping out 20 kids at a time.
     
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  7. By HECTOR Posted: 4/22/2008 5:59am PDT

    Yes, of course I'm going to trust the company that also said that abnoxiously bright daytime running lights are the greatest addition to car safety since brakes were invented. Sure Rick!

    Only one thing standing between me and believing you: my common sense.

    One problem is that when there's a passing fad being crammed down your throat by the media, the government and big industry it stays around longer than it should (just look at the Atkins diet). But eventually it will go away.
     
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