<![CDATA[Grist - Comment Feed for Crude substitute: The folly of liquid coal]]> Grist Comment Feed en Comment #1 by Biodiversivist http://www.grist.org/article/crude-substitute-the-folly-of-liquid-coal/ Mon, 31 Mar 2008 01:31:07 -0700 http://www.grist.org/article/crude-substitute-the-folly-of-liquid-coal/1 Link busted

In the end, it all comes down to biodiversity. Poison Darts--Protecting the biodiversity of our world

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In the end, it all comes down to biodiversity. Poison Darts--Protecting the biodiversity of our world

]]> Comment #2 by David Roberts http://www.grist.org/article/crude-substitute-the-folly-of-liquid-coal/ Mon, 31 Mar 2008 03:57:16 -0700 http://www.grist.org/article/crude-substitute-the-folly-of-liquid-coal/2 Fixed.

grist.org

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]]> Comment #3 by Biodiversivist http://www.grist.org/article/crude-substitute-the-folly-of-liquid-coal/ Mon, 31 Mar 2008 06:11:47 -0700 http://www.grist.org/article/crude-substitute-the-folly-of-liquid-coal/3 First,

I find it hard to believe that this has to be debated. But that's also what I said about corn ethanol, so ...

What I really find interesting about this film is that no mention was made of liquid biofuels when talking alternatives. The NRDC supported government mandates and published a great deal of literature in support of these fuels for several years.

In one place they had picture of a canola field alongside solar panels and windmills, but that was it. They talked about biomass being used to make electricity. And when they showed a bus I was stunned to see it was running on natural gas instead of biodiesel.

They have quit pitching it but they are a long way from openly criticizing biofuels like they are doing here with coal to liquid, which should be a no-brainer.

Coal to liquid is twice as bad as petroleum for GHG but so are biofuels. Some are four to ten times worse and they all usurp land needed for food and habitat for biodiversity. They are every bit as environmentally destructive in their own way as coal to liquid. Expect the New York Times to tell us about it a few years from now.

In the end, it all comes down to biodiversity. Poison Darts--Protecting the biodiversity of our world

]]> First,

I find it hard to believe that this has to be debated. But that's also what I said about corn ethanol, so ...

What I really find interesting about this film is that no mention was made of liquid biofuels when talking alternatives. The NRDC supported government mandates and published a great deal of literature in support of these fuels for several years.

In one place they had picture of a canola field alongside solar panels and windmills, but that was it. They talked about biomass being used to make electricity. And when they showed a bus I was stunned to see it was running on natural gas instead of biodiesel.

They have quit pitching it but they are a long way from openly criticizing biofuels like they are doing here with coal to liquid, which should be a no-brainer.

Coal to liquid is twice as bad as petroleum for GHG but so are biofuels. Some are four to ten times worse and they all usurp land needed for food and habitat for biodiversity. They are every bit as environmentally destructive in their own way as coal to liquid. Expect the New York Times to tell us about it a few years from now.

In the end, it all comes down to biodiversity. Poison Darts--Protecting the biodiversity of our world

]]> Comment #4 by JMG http://www.grist.org/article/crude-substitute-the-folly-of-liquid-coal/ Mon, 31 Mar 2008 06:14:52 -0700 http://www.grist.org/article/crude-substitute-the-folly-of-liquid-coal/4 Woolsey's an ethanomaniac

Interesting choice to feature James Woolsey there -- I attended a day-long session he offered in Kalamazoo in 2006 called "PowerShift," a pretty slick presentation trying to alert people to our energy vulnerability around oil supplies.  He promoted corn ethanol pretty hard, and waved his hands about the wondrous magic of switchgrass just around the corner.  The corn lobby was there in force, as well as a union-run research center big into promoting "flex fuel" vehicles etc.  About what you'd expect from Michigan in other words -- "there's no problem with cars once we find the magic replacement fuel!"

Save your community: Cut greenhouse gas emissions 5% per year.

]]> Woolsey's an ethanomaniac

Interesting choice to feature James Woolsey there -- I attended a day-long session he offered in Kalamazoo in 2006 called "PowerShift," a pretty slick presentation trying to alert people to our energy vulnerability around oil supplies.  He promoted corn ethanol pretty hard, and waved his hands about the wondrous magic of switchgrass just around the corner.  The corn lobby was there in force, as well as a union-run research center big into promoting "flex fuel" vehicles etc.  About what you'd expect from Michigan in other words -- "there's no problem with cars once we find the magic replacement fuel!"

Save your community: Cut greenhouse gas emissions 5% per year.

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