Post by seacid on Jan 15, 2008 12:47:10 GMT 8
www.journal.com.ph/index.php?issue=2008-01-15&sec=4&aid=45850
January 15, 2008 03:43 PM Tuesday Article read 59 time(s)
Wind better energy source than biofuel –– Miriam
By: Bernadette E. Tamayo
THE country should look for other sources of energy such as hydro, geothermal, solar, wind, and biomass, Sen. Miriam Defensor-Santiago said yesterday. She was reacting to a statement of Dr. Hartmut Michel, 1998 Nobel prizewinner for chemistry, that biofuel development is counterproductive because it produces little energy compared to other alternative sources.
Santiago, chairperson of the Joint Congressional Power Commission, intends to ask Senate President Manuel Villar, Jr. and Speaker Jose de Venecia to provide funds for the newly created Biofuels Oversight Committee to ensure that "food acreage will not be prejudiced by biofuel acreage."
"Some politicians have overhyped the Biofuels Act to burnish their image, thus misleading the public. The Biofuels Act raises a serious debate on food versus biofuels in a small island country like ours," she said.
She supported Michel's suggestion that government should invest in wind power.
"Biofuel is landbased, and will eventually compete with food. Because the Philippines has a small land area, biofuel production will tend to encroach on food production. Corporations are already searching for millions of hectares for jatropha alone. We have to step on the brakes and decelerate," Santiago said.
She said the renewable energy bill, like the Electric Power Industry Reform Act will establish a renewable energy market and a wholesale electricity spot market.
"The renewable energy bill provide for the green energy option, which gives consumers the choice to use renewable energy, and accelerate open access," Santiago said.
Ironically, Santiago authored and sponsored the Biofuels Act signed by President Macapagal-Arroyo into law in January last year.
The Biofuels Act requires a minimum one percent biodiesel blend in diesel fuel, and five percent bioethanol blend in gasoline fuel, prompting business speculators to call for the conversion of riceland to sugarcane, corn, cassava, nipa, jatropha, palm, soy, grapeseed, and coconut.
"The Biofuels Act merely addresses energy use in the transport sector. But the renewable energy bill will cover all energy applications outside the transport sector," Santiago said.
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January 15, 2008 03:43 PM Tuesday Article read 59 time(s)
Wind better energy source than biofuel –– Miriam
By: Bernadette E. Tamayo
THE country should look for other sources of energy such as hydro, geothermal, solar, wind, and biomass, Sen. Miriam Defensor-Santiago said yesterday. She was reacting to a statement of Dr. Hartmut Michel, 1998 Nobel prizewinner for chemistry, that biofuel development is counterproductive because it produces little energy compared to other alternative sources.
Santiago, chairperson of the Joint Congressional Power Commission, intends to ask Senate President Manuel Villar, Jr. and Speaker Jose de Venecia to provide funds for the newly created Biofuels Oversight Committee to ensure that "food acreage will not be prejudiced by biofuel acreage."
"Some politicians have overhyped the Biofuels Act to burnish their image, thus misleading the public. The Biofuels Act raises a serious debate on food versus biofuels in a small island country like ours," she said.
She supported Michel's suggestion that government should invest in wind power.
"Biofuel is landbased, and will eventually compete with food. Because the Philippines has a small land area, biofuel production will tend to encroach on food production. Corporations are already searching for millions of hectares for jatropha alone. We have to step on the brakes and decelerate," Santiago said.
She said the renewable energy bill, like the Electric Power Industry Reform Act will establish a renewable energy market and a wholesale electricity spot market.
"The renewable energy bill provide for the green energy option, which gives consumers the choice to use renewable energy, and accelerate open access," Santiago said.
Ironically, Santiago authored and sponsored the Biofuels Act signed by President Macapagal-Arroyo into law in January last year.
The Biofuels Act requires a minimum one percent biodiesel blend in diesel fuel, and five percent bioethanol blend in gasoline fuel, prompting business speculators to call for the conversion of riceland to sugarcane, corn, cassava, nipa, jatropha, palm, soy, grapeseed, and coconut.
"The Biofuels Act merely addresses energy use in the transport sector. But the renewable energy bill will cover all energy applications outside the transport sector," Santiago said.
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