Scientists: Biofuel Laws May Harm Environment  News & Features
Richard Harris · · A farmer harvests corn on a farm near Spring
Mills, Pa. According to current biofuel laws, if you burn
ethanol from corn in your car, the government doesn't count the
carbon dioxide that comes out of the tailpipe as an actual
carbon emission.   1. Listen Story audio  On Friday, the
Environmental Protection Agency is expected to give a price tag
for the Senate's global warming bill. That will frame next
week's scheduled debate on the legislation.  One key part of the
climate bill has to do with fuels made from green plants. These
can reduce the use of fossil fuels, and they also are a big draw
for farm-state votes.  But scientists writing in the current
issue of Science magazine point out a huge error in existing
biofuel laws that could actually make climate change worse. They
say these rules inadvertently encourage deforestation, which in
turn contributes to global warming.  Something Doesn't Add Up
If you burn ethanol from cor