Biofuel Critics Avoid Debate
So-called 'experts' who are quick enough to criticise the efforts of the fledgling biofuels industry in the UK should at least have the courage to explain their arguments.
Comments by UK scientist Professor Robert Watson reported on the BBC News website last week said that Professor Watson said 'biofuels policy in the EU and the UK may have run ahead of the science'.
In an interview which was not even able to get the date of the introduction of the Renewable Transport Fuels Obligation (RTFO) right [1], Professor Watson called for the policy to be suspended until the Renewable Fuels Agency finishes its current assessment into the wider effects of biofuel production.
His comments were quickly picked up and widely reported, as well as being seized upon by Conservative Shadow Environment Minister Peter Ainsworth MP and campaign groups such as Greenpeace.
As a leading independent source of information on all aspect of bioenergy, Enagri was keen to speak to Professor Watson about the basis of some of his assertions and to find out more about his recommendations. As the April issue of Enagri went to press on 31 March, no reply had been received.
Richard Crowhurst, managing director of Enagri, said: "You would have thought that, having called for a delay in the RTFO on one of the nation's most listened to radio shows, he'd be keen to expand the debate, get the stakeholders involved. Why then has he chosen to ignore Enagri's invitation to expand on his position through our publication?
"As a magazine we've always tried to allow all sides a forum, something that has attracted submissions from US environmentalists like Lester Brown. As for Professor Watson, we know he received our e-mail, but no reply, not even a polite no, has been received so far.
"The same goes for shadow environment secretary Peter Ainsworth. If the Tories are as green as they keep trying to paint themselves, isn't it time that they actually explained how they would improve on the RTFO framework, rather than just using it to take political pot shots at the Government?"
