Proposal to Place Biomass, Biofuels Under CO2 Emission Cap is Based on Flawed Logic, BIO Says

WASHINGTON--(Business Wire)--
Treating renewable energy the same as fossil energy thwarts the goal of reducing
climate change. The Biotechnology Industry Organization (BIO) today reacted to
the publication in Science magazine of a proposal to count international
emissions against U.S. renewable biomass production.

Brent Erickson, executive vice president of BIO`s Industrial & Environmental
Section, stated, "Biofuels and biomass energy recycle atmospheric carbon, while
fossil energy takes carbon that has been stored for millions of years in the
earth and releases it into the atmosphere. The policy proposed today distorts
this simple fact. It also fails to take into account that well-managed biomass
production can sequester more carbon in the soil than is released into the
atmosphere through combustion of biofuels and bioenergy. Biomass carbon can also
be sequestered in production of biobased products. The U.S. Environmental
Protection Agency`s analysis earlier this year shows that well-managed
cellulosic sources of biomass can actually take more CO2 from the air, and
sequester it in the soil, than is released through combustion in automobiles.

"The proposal put forward today, similar to a previous proposal for accounting
of lifecycle emissions from biofuels, would hold U.S. production of renewable
energy and biomass accountable for emissions in other countries, limiting the
ability of the United States to reduce its own emissions. This is a misguided
policy proposal to protect foreign habitats by penalizing American farmers and
biofuels producers who may be having no impact on land use practices in
developing nations.

"Renewable energy should not be treated in the same manner as fossil fuels under
any climate change cap and trade legislation or treaty. Rather, biofuels should
be recognized for their unique role in helping attain a low carbon future. To
date, climate change legislation being considered by Congress has focused
primarily on limiting emissions from stationary sources such as power plants and
factories. But we cannot have a low-carbon future without low-carbon
transportation fuels. Congress should not be penalizing low-carbon biofuels, but
instead should be rewarding their production since they can help reduce the
carbon footprint of the transportation sector."

BIO previously sent a letter to Senate Environment and Public Works Committee
members asking that biofuels not be subject to additional requirements for
greenhouse gas reporting, since they are regulated under the Renewable Fuel
Standard. A copy of BIO`s letter is available at
http://bio.org/letters/20091001b.pdf.

About BIO

BIO represents more than 1,200 biotechnology companies, academic institutions,
state biotechnology centers and related organizations across the United States
and in more than 30 other nations. BIO members are involved in the research and
development of innovative healthcare, agricultural, industrial and environmental
biotechnology products. BIO also produces the BIO International Convention, the
world`s largest gathering of the biotechnology industry, along with
industry-leading investor and partnering meetings held around the world. The
Advanced Biofuels & Climate Change Information Center presents the latest
commentary and data on the environmental and other impacts of biofuel
production. Drop in and add your comments, at
http://biofuelsandclimate.wordpress.com/.

Upcoming BIO Events

Intellectual Property Counsels Fall Conference and Committee Meeting
October 26-28, 2009
Washington, DC

8th Annual BIO Investor Forum
October 28-29, 2009
San Francisco, CA

Advanced Business Development Course
October 30, 2009
Vienna, Austria

BIO Europe International Partnering Conference
November 2-4, 2009
Vienna, Austria

Pacific Rim Summit on Industrial Biotechnology and Bioenergy
November 8-11, 2009
Honolulu, HI

BIO Asia Partnering Conference
January 25-26, 2010
Tokyo, Japan

BIO CEO & Investor Conference
February 8-9, 2010
New York, NY

Biotechnology Industry Organization (BIO)
Paul Winters, 202-962-9237
pwinters@bio.org

www.bio.org

Copyright Business Wire 2009