I saw a biodiesel VW on the road today and the green part of me said I should get one of my own to help cut oil consumption. The rest of me says truly cutting pollution and energy use is a lot more complicated.
Biofuel production -- such as the new plant in Hoquiam -- surely makes sense as part of an array of energy alternatives. But it seems we're likely to accomplish more by guiding more efficient consumer behavior through incentives.
Consider this editorial in today's L.A. Times laying out the case against ethanol, a corn-based biofuel that's winning attention from politicians of all stripes ahead of the caucuses in Iowa. The article points out the environmental costs and makes a convincing case for fuel economy standards instead.
Meanwhile an Oregon State University study found that the cost of biofuels, including tax subsidies, is many times more than alternatives such as increased fuel efficiency.