Biofuel plants a significant source of air pollution in Midwest, study finds • Minnesota Reformer

A Report on the Environmental Impact of Biofuel Refineries

A report out this week finds that biofuel refineries, which are overwhelmingly concentrated in the Midwest’s corn-producing states, emit significant amounts of compounds that foul the air and threaten public health.

Introduction

The study was produced by the Environmental Integrity Project, a nonprofit based in Washington, D.C. It finds that the total quantity of air pollutants released by the nation’s biofuel refineries adds up to 12.9 million pounds annually, close to the 14.5 million pounds emitted by traditional oil refineries.

Data Sources

The data in the report comes from emissions inventories maintained by the Environmental Protection Agency.

Formaldehyde Emissions

One of the emitted pollutants is formaldehyde, a toxic compound used, among other things, to prevent corpses from decaying. It’s also a widely recognized carcinogen, especially when emitted in gaseous form.

The nation’s biofuel plants reported more than 235,000 pounds of formaldehyde emissions in 2022, more than three times the amount released by petroleum refineries.

Sustainable Development Goals

“Despite its green image, the biofuels industry releases a surprising amount of hazardous air pollution that puts local communities at risk – and this problem is exacerbated by EPA’s lax regulation,” said Courtney Bernhardt, director of research for the Environmental Integrity Project.

Regional Distribution

There are at least 226 biofuel plants in the country, according to the report, including 21 in Minnesota, mostly in the southwest quadrant of the state.

Hazardous Pollutants

In 2022 those plants emitted roughly 715,000 pounds of hazardous pollutants, with the majority coming from the Minnesota Soybean Processors biodiesel facility in Brewster. Minnesota’s ethanol refineries also produced the equivalent of 2 million metric tons of carbon dioxide, and nearly 3 million tons of other regulated air pollutants including lead, sulfur dioxide, carbon monoxide, nitrogen oxides and particulate matter.

Impact on Climate Change

“Biofuel factories release surprisingly large amounts of hazardous air pollution, often into rural Midwestern communities that suffer from unhealthy air quality despite having no significant pollution sources around them, other than the smokestacks of ethanol refineries,” the report concludes.

Those emissions undercut the industry’s carefully-crafted image as a “green” alternative to traditional, petroleum-based fuels. Scientists are increasingly concluding that crop-based ethanol may actually be worse for the climate than regular gasoline once a full accounting of emissions associated with its production is made.

Land Use and Policy Recommendations

Roughly 5% of the total surface area of Minnesota — more than the land taken up by every town, city and road — is used to grow corn for ethanol production.

The report faults the EPA for subjecting ethanol plants to less stringent emission standards than regular oil refineries. The authors also call on policymakers to eliminate the mandates and subsidies for ethanol production that prop up the industry.

“Biofuels are growing at a rapid rate in part because of government funding and regulatory mandates for blending ethanol into gasoline,” the authors write. “But the environmental benefits of these government supports are questionable at best.”

SDGs, Targets, and Indicators Analysis

1. Which SDGs are addressed or connected to the issues highlighted in the article?

• SDG 3: Good Health and Well-being
• SDG 7: Affordable and Clean Energy
• SDG 11: Sustainable Cities and Communities
• SDG 13: Climate Action
• SDG 15: Life on Land

The article discusses the emission of air pollutants from biofuel refineries, which directly affects public health (SDG 3). It also highlights the environmental impact of biofuel production and its contribution to climate change (SDG 7 and SDG 13). The concentration of biofuel plants in certain areas raises concerns about the well-being of local communities and sustainable urban development (SDG 11). Additionally, the use of land for corn production for ethanol raises questions about land use and biodiversity (SDG 15).

2. What specific targets under those SDGs can be identified based on the article’s content?

• Target 3.9: By 2030, substantially reduce the number of deaths and illnesses from hazardous chemicals and air, water, and soil pollution and contamination.
• Target 7.2: By 2030, increase substantially the share of renewable energy in the global energy mix.
• Target 11.6: By 2030, reduce the adverse per capita environmental impact of cities, including by paying special attention to air quality and municipal and other waste management.
• Target 13.2: Integrate climate change measures into national policies, strategies, and planning.
• Target 15.5: Take urgent and significant action to reduce degradation of natural habitats, halt the loss of biodiversity, and protect and prevent the extinction of threatened species.

The targets identified are directly related to the issues discussed in the article. They focus on reducing deaths and illnesses caused by air pollution, increasing the share of renewable energy, improving air quality in cities, integrating climate change measures, and protecting natural habitats and biodiversity.

3. Are there any indicators mentioned or implied in the article that can be used to measure progress towards the identified targets?

Yes, the article provides indicators that can be used to measure progress towards the identified targets:

• Quantity of air pollutants released by biofuel refineries (indicator for Target 3.9)
• Amount of formaldehyde emissions from biofuel plants (indicator for Target 3.9)
• Amount of hazardous pollutants emitted by biofuel plants (indicator for Target 3.9)
• Amount of carbon dioxide and other regulated air pollutants produced by ethanol refineries (indicator for Target 11.6)
• Proportion of land used for corn production for ethanol (indicator for Target 15.5)

These indicators provide measurable data to assess progress in reducing air pollution, improving air quality, and protecting biodiversity.

4. Table: SDGs, Targets, and Indicators

Source: minnesotareformer.com