Just how green are biofuels?

[MotherBear]

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.

More here .

[KiwiHopeful]

Here's another interesting article I came across the other day:

Former weed may fill world's fuel tanks

[MotherBear]

Prices turn drivers green
5:00AM Sunday May 20, 2007
By Michelle Coursey


Toyota Prius

Higher fuel costs and reducing price tags for hybrid cars are propelling more New Zealanders towards eco-friendly motoring.

With hybrids available for only around $1000 more than an equivalent standard car, the motorist quickly wins through fuel savings.

Hybrid vehicles - those with a petrol-powered engine and an electric motor - made their international debut in 2001. They are becoming more affordable as early models are sold on the secondhand market. The Clean Green Car Company, which imports secondhand Toyota Prius and Honda Insight hybrid vehicles, said its sales had been "steadily increasing" over the past two years, and had been particularly good since fuel prices began to rise dramatically last March.

"In March and April last year, people were flooding in the doors, and we sold out of cars, that's how popular they are getting," said company owner Stephen Pollard.

More here .