How Biofuels Could Starve the Poor

Foreign Affairs by C. Ford Runge, Benjamin Senauer | Apr. 6, 2007 (Special Report)

Now, thanks to a combination of high oil prices and even more generous government subsidies, corn-based ethanol has become the rage. There were 110 ethanol refineries in operation in the United States at the end of 2006, according to the Renewable Fuels Association. Many were being expanded, and another 73 were under construction. When these projects are completed, by the end of 2008, the United States' ethanol production capacity will reach an estimated ... Full Story »

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Chris Finnie
4.9
 by Chris Finnie - Oct. 1, 2008

Bush like ethanol because his buddies in big oil like it. Big auto likes it for the same reason. Both want it because they don't have to change much of their massive infrastructure to move into the market. But, as this article points out, it doesn't cut greenhouse gasses much, is inefficient to produce, and threatens an already-hungry population. In addition, as climate change accelerates--further threatening the world's food production, it will be even less viable. A well-written expose of another ill-considered short-term fix at the cost of more viable technologies.

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