[Wonder Warthog]

"The Science study argues that this is a false economy, because it doesn't consider changes in land use. If mature forests are cleared to make room for biofuel-growing farms, then the carbon that would otherwise accumulate in those forests ought to be counted on ethanol's balance sheet as well."

Sorry to bust your bubble, but the premise of the Science "study" is so much bullshit. NO "mature forests" have been cleared to produce ethanol in the US. This "might" be a legitimate criticism in Brazil, but not here. Another problem is that "mature forests" don't fix much carbon---it is "new growth" forests that are the "big fixers" in the CO2 world.

[bestintxas]

“NO “mature forests” have been cleared to produce ethanol in the US. “

The recently passed mandates to increase the proportional usage of biofuels including ethanol must mean that more agricultural land must go to growing for fuel; otherwise, there will indeed be a mandate for taking non-farm acreage and utilizing it for growing biofuel feedstock.

Could this be forest land? you betcha.