<![CDATA[Grist - Comment Feed for USDA head suggests harvesting switchgrass on conservation land]]> Grist Comment Feed en Comment #1 by caniscandida http://www.grist.org/article/crp1/ Tue, 04 Mar 2008 08:16:33 -0800 http://www.grist.org/article/crp1/1 It is startling

that people as clueless as Ed Schafer occupy the positions they do.

Or, is it all an act, to stroke the base and yank the chains of the conservationists?

]]> It is startling

that people as clueless as Ed Schafer occupy the positions they do.

Or, is it all an act, to stroke the base and yank the chains of the conservationists?

]]> Comment #2 by Wolverine http://www.grist.org/article/crp1/ Tue, 04 Mar 2008 08:18:42 -0800 http://www.grist.org/article/crp1/2 Biofuels & The Environment

This article really brings home the harm that is being caused by replacing petroleum fuels with biofuels.  While biofuels made from waste are a vast improvement over petrofuels, biofuels made from crops grown on what used to be natural land are very ecologically destructive.  For example, in addition to the harm identified here, rainforests are being cut down to grow biofuels.  And of course growing biofuels instead of food either makes food scarce or raises its price.

The only way to solve the ecological problems caused by driving is to reduce or eliminate driving.  Attacking symptoms instead of the problem, as here, will not fix the problem.

And, BTW, despite lies and propaganda to the contrary, biofuels will do absolutely nothing about global warming.  All fuels create CO2 when burned; it's the least toxic emission possible.  (Biofuels could reduce global warming if they were grown on land that was paved, where the pavement had been removed in order to grow them.  Otherwise, it's just replacing one plant with another.)

]]> Biofuels & The Environment

This article really brings home the harm that is being caused by replacing petroleum fuels with biofuels.  While biofuels made from waste are a vast improvement over petrofuels, biofuels made from crops grown on what used to be natural land are very ecologically destructive.  For example, in addition to the harm identified here, rainforests are being cut down to grow biofuels.  And of course growing biofuels instead of food either makes food scarce or raises its price.

The only way to solve the ecological problems caused by driving is to reduce or eliminate driving.  Attacking symptoms instead of the problem, as here, will not fix the problem.

And, BTW, despite lies and propaganda to the contrary, biofuels will do absolutely nothing about global warming.  All fuels create CO2 when burned; it's the least toxic emission possible.  (Biofuels could reduce global warming if they were grown on land that was paved, where the pavement had been removed in order to grow them.  Otherwise, it's just replacing one plant with another.)

]]> Comment #3 by christophersj http://www.grist.org/article/crp1/ Tue, 04 Mar 2008 08:45:15 -0800 http://www.grist.org/article/crp1/3 I'm not going to stop

I'm not likely to ever stop driving or associate my independence with a personal car.

But I will go way, way out of my way to get the most technologically advanced and least CO2 and smog producing vehicle I can.  And I will vote with the ballot and my dollars to influence carbon free solutions.  And I will convince friends and family to do so as well.

]]> I'm not going to stop

I'm not likely to ever stop driving or associate my independence with a personal car.

But I will go way, way out of my way to get the most technologically advanced and least CO2 and smog producing vehicle I can.  And I will vote with the ballot and my dollars to influence carbon free solutions.  And I will convince friends and family to do so as well.

]]> Comment #4 by globalbee http://www.grist.org/article/crp1/ Thu, 06 Mar 2008 10:07:29 -0800 http://www.grist.org/article/crp1/4 Ed Schafer on a roll

According to Jerry Hagstrom (DTN.ag) Secretary of Agriculture Ed Schafer reportedly said "I'd like to see all the CRP (conservation lands) acres out there growing switchgrass" that could be used for bioenergy.

It's all about balance isn't it? Schafer values are still in the same place but he sees his comments as getting "greener" perhaps the new "Middle East" is the "Middle West".

What good would the bio-fuels be if they just consumed all the conversation lands that are aiding in the protection of our wildlife for future generations as well as contributing to a reduction in GHG by being out of active Ag rotation. These Farm Bill conversation programs are intiated by farmers and they are way underfunded already.

Bio-fuels while a good option for alternative fueling has to be worked into a sustainable approach.

]]> Ed Schafer on a roll

According to Jerry Hagstrom (DTN.ag) Secretary of Agriculture Ed Schafer reportedly said "I'd like to see all the CRP (conservation lands) acres out there growing switchgrass" that could be used for bioenergy.

It's all about balance isn't it? Schafer values are still in the same place but he sees his comments as getting "greener" perhaps the new "Middle East" is the "Middle West".

What good would the bio-fuels be if they just consumed all the conversation lands that are aiding in the protection of our wildlife for future generations as well as contributing to a reduction in GHG by being out of active Ag rotation. These Farm Bill conversation programs are intiated by farmers and they are way underfunded already.

Bio-fuels while a good option for alternative fueling has to be worked into a sustainable approach.

]]>