The Conservative government is formally shutting down its controversial biofuels subsidy program, saying companies producing biodiesel have failed to meet ambitious production targets.
h/t ron in kelowna
The Conservative government is formally shutting down its controversial biofuels subsidy program, saying companies producing biodiesel have failed to meet ambitious production targets.
h/t ron in kelowna
“failed to meet targets” Gee you don’t hear that to often in the green energy world these days.
The government was right to end this program even if it was under the veneer of not meeting production expectations. Considering the amount of energy used to produce ethanol and biodiesel in the first place, the end result is a fuel that produces more greenhouse gases per gallon than conventional oil. As I like to point out to my green friends, diverting food production to inefficient fuel production is as stupid as it gets.
1) It’s slated to end in 2017, which means it will never happen. Something will come up.
2) The 5% mandate is still in effect and that is a hell of a lot worse than subsidies.
Lumping biodiesel and ethanol together only shows ignorance. Biodiesel EROI 3:1
Ethanol EROI 1:1, ethanol is a scam. It’s little more than a corn farmer subsidy.
Details are important when discerning truth from fiction.
Canadian biodiesel is made from waste, not food.
Govt standards requiring biodiesel as a pollution reducing additive in diesel fuel will remain and provide sufficient incentive to producers.
Existing commitments, however, will be met until the program expires in 2017. The program will continue, new applications will not be accepted.
Um, not so fast, they just started another one this month, http://news.gc.ca/web/article-eng.do?mthd=tp&crtr.page=1&nid=720329&crtr.tp1D=1, the headline?
“Harper Government Helps Find Sweet New Uses for Sugar Beets.
Lethbridge, Alberta, February 13, 2013 – Sugar beet growers are finding new and innovative uses for their crops thanks to support from the Harper Government. Member of Parliament LaVar Payne (Medicine Hat), on behalf of Agriculture Minister Gerry Ritz, announced today an investment that will help demonstrate the viability of using beets in the production of sustainable alternatives to petrochemicals.”
So in a province which alone holds enough oil to place it 2nd in the world after Saudi Arabia, they are subsidizing sugar beet farmers to produce “sustainable alternatives”.
Silly dance they do, one step forward, one step back…
In other obvious news the public was shocked to learn that windturbines operate below full capacity and oh my, require maintenance. Unfortunately the targets will not be met so more will have to be built.
For a more thorough understanding of the isses read Karl Marx’s Communist Manifesto.
Both ethanol and wind power are scams.
Dear north_of_60,
I know biodiesel is made from waste. Regardless, the energy input versus output for both is very inefficient and will never compete economically with fossil fuels and from a CO2 emissions standpoint, is a dirty fuel source. So the pollution reducing effects of biodiesel as an additive are negated in the production phase.
There is no upside at this time for either fuel.
I know biodiesel is made from waste. Regardless, the energy input versus output for both is very inefficient and will never compete economically with fossil fuels and from a CO2 emissions standpoint, is a dirty fuel source. So the pollution reducing effects of biodiesel as an additive are negated in the production phase.There is no upside at this time for either fuel.
Posted by: Peter Milot
You’re quite misinformed, but that’s OK if you prefer to live in your fantasy world, it changes nothing in the real world. Keep spewing propaganda to the choir. Have a nice day.
And now major manufacturers will cancel warrantys if biofuels are used in some applications.. Eats seals, eats some gas lines etc.
Yes, fuel system damage is an ongoing problem with ethanol as discussed here previously.
All major diesel manufacturers warrant their engines for B20 biodiesel mix.
People who can’t discern the significant differences between biodiesel and ethanol are like those who can’t tell the difference between a horse and a cow because they’re both big four legged herbivores.
I can. Horse tastes different.
Farmers are so lucky, they never have to spend a cent on fuel, all’s they gotta do is grow it!
Yes, if it were economic to do, farmers would be doing it. Obviously biodiesel is just another weight on the taxpayer already burdened with irrigation costs.
Obviously biodiesel is just another weight on the taxpayer already burdened with irrigation costs.Posted by: stradivarious
got any proof for your ridiculous assumption?
Biodiesel additive reduces urban diesel particulate pollution, that’s why Canada requires it in diesel fuel.
Yes, if it were economic to do, farmers would be doing it.
Some farmers do.
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=jbECYEJWyoM
There are more videos by fuelfarmer, and he’s just one of many.
We can lead people to knowledge, but we can’t make them think.
Heh, the new perpetual motion machine…grow and refine fuel that returns more energy than used to grow and refine.
fiddle box, you’re an idiot, GolfFoxtrotYankee
further comments from you will be ignored
ALL government subsidy programs to business should be shut down a.s.a.p. They distort the economy, reduce productivity and therefore take money out of everyone’s pockets.
I would have thought Stephen Harper, a supposedly principled conservative, understood that.
ALL government subsidy programs to business should be shut down a.s.a.p.
true, but the oil companies wouldn’t like that, nor would the banks and the farmers… did I leave out anyone else?
Biodiesel additive reduces urban diesel particulate pollution, that’s why Canada requires it in diesel fuel.
Which is of course stupid. The government should set pollution targets and leave the means up entirely to the manufacturer/user.
true, but the oil companies wouldn’t like that
Oil companies are not subsidized beyond their involvement in ‘renewable’ energy.
So-called bio-fuels may be hazardous to older infernal combustion engines, given alcohol’s affinity to absorb water/moisture.
Older gasoline fueled vehicles equipped with carburetors are very vulnerable. If you own one of these it’s a good idea to use only premium fuel, AFAIK it contains no ethanol.
Oil companies are not subsidized beyond their involvement in ‘renewable’ energy.Posted by: LAS
ROTFL…. of course we’re subsidized, have been for a long long time and there’s nothing you can do about it except stick your head in the sand and deny it. BTW we don’t care whether or not you believe we’re subsidized we’ll stick it to you at the pumps because we can. Without the subsides we get from the govt you would be paying even more.
1) Until I see these subsidies I’m going to assume you’re lying.
2) Without the subsides we get from the govt you would be paying even more.
And with that I can assume you’re an idiot. If I pay for subsidy, I’m already paying ‘even more’.
We don’t care what you assume, you will pay nonetheless.
As you have posted no counter argument, you apparently agree with the conclusion but just don’t care for the messenger.