The dark side of ‘green’ diesel
13 November, 2008, 10:27
Fuel companies are adding significant amounts of biofuels to bulk out diesel and increase their profits, which is having a detrimental effect on the planet. Freelance writer Gabrielle Pickard reports for RT on the down side of green energy.
High oil prices in recent times have prompted energy firms to turn to biofuels, which are significantly cheaper than fossil fuels.
An examination carried out by environmental campaigners Greenpeace has revealed that many oil companies are opting for the cheaper biofuels to increase the volume of their diesel as well as profits.
However, by ignoring some of the damaging implications of cheaper “greener” biofuels, fuel firms are ironically damaging our planet.
The damaging side effects of using biofuels, which many of the large oil companies in the UK seem to be either unaware of or are conveniently ignoring, include destroying rainforests, killing wildlife and pushing up the price of food.
The Greenpeace assessment exposed that some companies are using more than twice as much plant-based fuel than the official levels set by the UK government. The department of Renewable Transport Fuel Obligation announced that suppliers are obliged to mix 2.5 per cent of biofuel into their fuel. But many garages are using twice that amount.
BP came under particular scrutiny as they were found to be incorporating palm oil into their fuel. Palm oil has been blamed for endangering orangutans in Indonesia, as forests are being ripped out and replaced by fuel crop plantations. Two Shell garages in the north of England were found to be selling diesel with a 4.9 per cent mix of biofuel.
BP defended its actions by saying they use palm oil to back industry moves towards making it more sustainable.
It is ironic that while a lot of the world is starving, land is being used to supply so-called ‘greener’ fuel for a superfluous number of vehicles in the civilized world.
Gabrielle Pickard for RT
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