Home-grown biofuel best, says CLA (From Smallholder)

Home-grown biofuel best, says CLA

7:11pm Sunday 22nd August 2010 in

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The CLA has urged the Government to guarantee biofuels imported from outside the UK meet the high environmental standards demanded from inside the UK.

The Association backed the latest report from the Renewable Fuels Agency (RFA) which said that more than three quarters of biofuels used in the UK meet no environmental standards whatsoever. However, three quarters of home-grown biofuels have delivered greenhouse gas savings of at least 44 percent against fossil fuels.

Henry Robinson, Vice-President of the CLA said: “Home-grown in the UK biofuels are best but we have worked closely with the Government and RFA to ensure a competitive market by trying to guarantee imported biofuels are meeting the high standards that are commonplace in the UK. There is currently a voluntary reporting system but this is clearly not working.”

“Most biofuels can be traced in small quantities in conventional fuels, but the big oil companies say they don’t know where their biofuel is coming from so don’t report it. If those companies can’t prove the source is not from a recently decimated rainforest motorists in the UK should not be expected to subsidise the imports.”

Mr Robinson added: “The Government must insist that the big oil companies meet UK environmental standards and announce a date from when biofuels without environmental certification will not qualify for Renewable Transport Fuel Obligation funding. In the meantime, the CLA encourages buying British when it comes to biofuel.”