Debate grows on suitability of biofuels
5:00AM Thursday May 10, 2007
By Tim Webb
Arnold Schwarzenegger, the Governor of California, uses it in one of his Hummers. Sir Richard Branson, the Virgin boss, wants to fuel his planes with it.
American President George Bush hopes it can wean his country off oil imports from the Middle East.
And next year, if tough new targets are met, it will be in every other litre of petrol sold at the pumps in Britain.
Biofuel is the latest green craze. It is made from crops such as wheat, rapeseed, corn and sugar; and less commonly from waste products such as used cooking oil and tallow (animal fat).
According to biofuel's many fans, blending conventional petrol and diesel with these crops or waste reduces the amount of crude oil needed and the overall amount of carbon released into the atmosphere.
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