The Wall Street Journal is reporting that two studies by Science magazine are decrying the supposed benefits of biofuels.  The studies found that “… corn-based ethanol will nearly double the output of greenhouse-gas emissions.”  Biofuels have been the favorite-son of government-directed energy plans.  Why is it that ethanol proponents have not anticipated the negative impact of biofuel production? 

Because they did not account for one very important variable, “the effect of changing land use.”  The very act of converting existing farmland or clearing new land for biofuel production has a serious impact on CO2 levels.  The huge outlays of CO2 that heavy machinery creates as they work the land are purportedly offset by society using biofuels.  And they are, eventually.

Consult the chart below to see how we will be playing catch-up.    

This is the problem with knee-jerk reactions to global warming, they often create more problems than they solve.  These studies show that the same fuzzy math employed by those who believe man is causing global warming is required to justify the proposed solutions.   

The studies went on to point out that other unintended consequences of increased biofuel production are the “clearing of native habitats” and increased “prices of corn and other food crops, as well as straining water supplies.” 

America needs to step back and take a deep breath before we strip mine our breadbasket producing a product that leaves us no better off than we are today.