I have just issued this letter by my MEP Robert Sturdy to our 
local papers on new legislation due to be introduced this month to increase the use of biofuels. It’s something we will have to get used to.
I remember Robert telling me about a German MEP who was a farmer and produced his own biofuel from crops he grew, and used it is in his car.
It will be interesting to see how many of us are also driving around with it in 10 years time.
Biofuel produced in East Anglia will soon be finding its way into the petrol tanks of motorists around the country. On 15 April 2008, the UK will unveil its renewable Transport Fuel Obligation. All fuel companies in the UK will have to replace a certain percentage of their annual fossil fuel sales with biofuels, by law. As from that date, 2.5 per cent of fuel produced in the UK will have to come from renewable sources such as crops.
I welcome these initiatives which will help the biofuel industry fulfil its potential. The Eastern Region has led the way in biofuel production and is home to the UK’s first bioethanol plant which opened last year is based in Wissington, Norfolk, producing 70 million litres of biofuel a year. It is vital that the rest of the UK follows suit and embraces biofuels, rather than stalling due to the unfounded, negative reports about biofuels which have appeared in the media recently.
Our energy security is going to be crucial in the coming years, and it is essential that we rely less on energy sources from abroad. Crucially, the UK biofuel industry must succeed as Britain is obligated to increase the share of biofuels used in transport to 10% by 2020 to meet EU targets. First generation biofuels produced at Wissington from corn and sugar beet are the first step to producing a successful biofuel industry which will help us all achieve a smaller carbon footprint. It is vital that the UK does not fall behind, which is why I am concerned that Alistair Darling has removed the fuel duty rebate for biofuels from 2010.
The larger the role first generation biofuels get to play, the quicker we can move on to cleaner second generation biofuels. These will require a huge amount of investment for research and development which is why a stable market needs to be created now. You only have to look at how efficient the modern car is compared with 50 years ago to understand that we must start somewhere. Second generation biofuels are produced from a variety of non-food crops and other natural materials, which is particularly pertinent at a time when food security is becoming an issue again after an era of so-called grain mountains.
Nevertheless, I do not agree with arguments that suggest biofuels are pushing up the price of our weekly shopping bill. In the UK we throw away around 20 million tonnes of food every year, food for thought you might say.
Hmm. Big arable farmer/MEP promotes policies that will keep grain prices high. Tell me something I don’t know.
I’m not convinced about this bio fuels frenzy – see comment Bishop Hill’s comment and also would someone please justify to me why obliterating the rainforest to plant crops for bio fuels is a good thing???
Pat Archer, who is very green, is opposed to a digestor plant being based in Ambridge as land that could be used for growing food will be used to feed it. That is all I know about biofuels!
A fine letter. It will be interesting to see what happens.
Ban Formula 1, ban fashion shows and rock concerts, reduce flights & cancel airport expansion … stop ironing clothes (does nothing practical)
Of course none of the above will happen so why bother at all ?
I think I’m with Liz!
I think I’m with EK on this one.
I think as long as we can’t feed everyone in the world we should not be using arable land for biofuel. Needless to say I know little about biofuel. Perhaps we should invent a way to turn garbage into fuel.
It will be interesting to see how many of us are also driving around with it in 10 years time.
I sold my car last summer.
Biofuels are completely distorting food markets around the world and are pushing food prices higher. Not only that, they are leading to widespread destruction of woodland and rainforests in particular in almost every corner on the globe in the rush to get US subsidies.
http://lettersfromatory.wordpress.com
Global temperatures haven’t risen at all this century.
http://www.dailymail.co.uk/pages/live/articles/news/news.html?in_article_id=557374&in_page_id=1770
Brazil’s fuel requirements are met almost 100%, I believe, from biofuel sustainable sources including a lot from sugar cane.
It worries me that the oil and motor companies have so much to lose, if biofuels are successful.
The oil companies have massive stores of fossil fuel oil they regard as their ‘assets’. Why should they want these assets reduced in value?
The car companies have modified the engines of cars produced in Brazil because they were made to do so by the government. Why would they want to incur the cost of modifying all engine production world wide?
It is irrational to assume powerful organisations that feel threatened will not fight back.
I think we need to question the motivation and vested interests of all anti-biofuel media messages very carefully.
Hi Ellee
What’s Mr Sturdy saying about biofuels now we know that they are causing 75% of the increase in world grain prices?