Beyond corn-fueled commutes and a new approach to wind farming
CARBON HOGS INC.
THE NEWSWhich power plants are the worst polluters? Last month, Carbon Monitoring for Action released the first global catalogue of such carbon dioxide emitters. Some interesting results from its survey of more than 50,000 plants: Just 100 companies produce 57 per cent of global emissions – and one American plant in Georgia, owned by Southern Company, pollutes more than the entire energy sector of Brazil. This year, the developing world will also overtake the developed world in total emissions.
THE BUZZ The aim of this database, created in association with the Center for Global Development in Washington, D.C., is to inspire a switch to clean energy. But, according to project leader David Wheeler, there is a big gap between political rhetoric and real change – his research reveals that hundreds of dirty, coal-fired plants are still in development all over the world.
THE BOTTOM LINE Despite troubling results, Mr. Wheeler insists that his list is not a “blame game.” “This is now a matter of mutual survival,” he says, “and we need to work out a co-operative plan to avoid a climate crisis.”
PEST POTENTIAL
THE NEWS Termites may not help suburban property values – but they could revolutionize homeowners’ commutes. In a recent issue of Nature, scientists identified bacterial enzymes in the insects’ guts that help them digest wood. They hope that these can eventually be used to break down wood and other tough plant material to make “cellulosic” ethanol fuel instead of ethanol made from soy, corn and wheat.
THE BUZZ Right now, making ethanol from wood requires too much energy – so these enzymes could be a breakthrough in more efficient production of biofuel. But, according to Eli Hopson of the Union of Concerned Scientists, even cellulosic ethanol won’t transform the transport sector. “We need to make big improvements in the energy efficiency of vehicles.”
THE BOTTOM LINE Until broader changes can be made, cellulosic ethanol offers a promising alternative to corn-based ethanol. Growing corn requires lots of polluting fertilizers – and using it for fuel drives up the price of food while reducing carbon-dioxide emissions by just 20 per cent. Ethanol from woody materials would not detract from food agriculture and could reduce emissions by up to 80 per cent.
CHOCOLATE CRAVING
THE NEWS Woody materials aren’t the only alternative to corn-based biofuel. To raise awareness of biodiesels and global warming, two British activists are driving from the United Kingdom to Mali in a truck powered by discarded chocolate misshapes from candy factories – 2,000 litres in all, or the equivalent of 80,000 bars.
THE BUZZ Running “cars on candy” may boost publicity for biofuels, but Andrew Boswell, the director of Biofuelwatch, says discarded food will never be a viable energy alternative. In fact, he says that promoting biofuels “may do more harm than good” since they distract attention from bigger issues.
THE BOTTOM LINE According to Mr. Boswell, the best course of action is not to sacrifice chocolate for fuel, but to improve public transit and drive our cars less.
BLOWING STEADY
THE NEWS Wind turbines are as inconsistent as the wind itself – which means we still rely primarily on coal, nuclear and hydro energy for reliable power at the flick of a switch. But a study in the Journal of Applied Meteorology and Climatology suggests a way to harness non-stop clean energy: linking wind farms together. Professor Cristina Archer, an engineer at Stanford University, argues that by picking farm locations carefully and joining them together, about one-third of their collective wind power could supply our electricity.
THE BUZZ Inconsistency isn’t the only criticism levelled at wind farms: People who live near them have complained of unsightly landscapes, noise and strobe-light effects – and they are blamed for 30,000 bird deaths a year. But Prof. Archer says the threat to birds is exaggerated. “We don’t bulldoze a building every time a bird hits a window,” she says. She adds that the best areas for turbine farms tend not to be frequented by birds, since they find it difficult to fly in strong winds.
THE BOTTOM LINE Careful planning and linking of wind farms could make them our primary energy source.