When "Green" Policies Blow Up In Your Face

Here's a post on the WUWT blog. So a "green" advocate is willing to admit a mistake. Sadly a lot of money was wasted and a number of lives were lost in the third world back two summers ago when there was panic over food supplies and various countries closed their exports. This was not necessarily caused by the US, but diverting large amounts of food into a "fuel" stream meant cheap food wasn't available and people died. I hope the "green" advocates who worry so much about "Mother Earth" show a little concern for the "little people" that their policies have killed.

Gore admits the obvious: US corn ethanol was not a good policy

Posted on November 22, 2010 by Ryan Maue

Do not expect to read much about this in the NY Times — and definitely don’t expect any follow up questions about his motivation for climate policy ($$$). Former Vice President Al Gore has admitted that his “support for corn-based ethanol in the United States was “not a good policy”, weeks before tax credits are up for renewal.”

Gore was the tie-breaking vote in the Senate mandating the use of ethanol in 1994.

From Reuters:

“It is not a good policy to have these massive subsidies for (U.S.) first generation ethanol,” said Gore, speaking at a green energy business conference in Athens sponsored by Marfin Popular Bank.

“First generation ethanol I think was a mistake. The energy conversion ratios are at best very small.

“It’s hard once such a programme is put in place to deal with the lobbies that keep it going.”

He continues (admitting more of the obvious):

“One of the reasons I made that mistake is that I paid particular attention to the farmers in my home state of Tennessee, and I had a certain fondness for the farmers in the state of Iowa because I was about to run for president.”

However, don’t make the mistake that he has had an epiphany on climate change:

Gore supported so-called second generation technologies which do not compete with food, for example cellulosic technologies which use chemicals or enzymes to extract sugar from fibre for example in wood, waste or grass.

“I do think second and third generation that don’t compete with food prices will play an increasing role, certainly with aviation fuels.”

Gore added did that he did not expect a U.S. clean energy or climate bill for “at least two years” following the mid-term elections which saw Republicans increase their support.

By the way, if you want some solid facts to understand "global warming", try reading MIT's Richard Lindzen's testimony before Congress given last week. (You can see other expert testimony at the Congressional site.)

Sadly the fanatics don't bother listening to senior scientists like Richard Lindzen. Why would you if you've been brainwashed into believing that the "science is settled".