Biomass: Short-Term Drawbacks, But Long-Term Climate Benefits

摘要

In recent months, two noteworthy letters have been sent to Congress by eminent scientists examining the merits-or demerits-of biofuels in the climate debate.rnThe first, sent May 17 by 90 scientists to House Speaker Nancy Pelosi (D-Calif.) and Senate Majority Leader Harry Reid (D-Nev.), questioned the treatment of all biomass energy as carbon-neutral, arguing that such treatment could undermine legislative emission-reduction goals.rnThe second, sent July 20 to Senate Environment and Public Works Committee Chair Barbara Boxer (D-Calif.) by 110 scientists, expressed concern over equating biogenic carbon emissions with fossil fuel emissions, such as contemplated in the Environmental Protection Agency's greenhouse gas tailoring rule. Such an approach, it is feared, encourages further fossil fuel energy production.