The Feld-Blog

So this Spring I am working for the Center for American Progress, and President and CEO John Podesta has developed an interesting idea. He is a big proponent of biofuels, and to hear him explain it, it is almost like the wonder cure politicians have been looking for for ages. A concerted government effort to increasing the percentage could bolster the American economy, dissolve trade distorting agricultural subsidies, solve our energy problem, reduce world poverty and safeguard American National security. What's more, biofuels are becoming economically and politically feasible for the first time.

Oil is drying up around the world, and as it runs scarce, prices are skyrocketing. To boot, America has grown economically dependent on one of the parts of the world we fear most and that poses the greatest threat to our national security. If we can make America energy self-sufficient, we can finally cut our self-afflicting, oil-filled umbilical chord to the Mideast that motivates so much dangerous foreign policy.

If we can stop brining fossil fuels, we can slow the detrimental effects of climate change. Climate change perpetuates developing nations poverty. Because many of these countries are in the areas of the world most prone to natural disaster, the increased frequency of storms caused by climate change condemn developing nations to always rebuilding infrastructure rather than dedicating funds to for war-looking economic stability. Furthermore, under global warming, sub-Saharan crop yields are projected to drop by 20%. When yield drops, prices go up and many of these countries who are spending upwards of 80-90% of their national income on food imports. They simply can't afford it. If we can find new sources of energy, we can slow climate change and stop this damaging progress.

Furthermore, concentrating on biofuels would allow the government to deal with an age old American political problem - agricultural subsidies. The government could reroute current agricultural subsidies into biofuels, thus keeping the money in the same industry while still reducing the trade distortions current subsidies create. These distortions are at the crux of the impasse in the current round of Doha trade negotiations and force developing nations to compete against American subsidies - not a fair fight if you ask me.

After Bush declared that we are addicted to foreign oil, political winds have begun to shift. Whereas politicians only saw the drawbacks of renewable energy before, many are beginning to see just how necessary it is. As politicians begin to support renewable energy initiatives, it becomes more and more feasible to get the votes necessary to pass relevant legislation. It is also becoming financially reasonable. Brazil was able to go from no cars running on biofuel to 70% of cars on the road running on some degree of flexfuel in just over a decade. Biofuels can power cars and electricity generators and have stimulated Brazil's economy and have already begun to augment our own.

It's an exciting new frontier in energy, and though it isn't perfect, it holds remarkable potential.