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Press Release

Revised Gulf Oil Leak in Perspective: Two New Ethanol Plants

June 14, 2010 – Toronto – According to the Global Renewable Fuels Alliance (GRFA) the newly revised Gulf oil leak of 60,000 barells per day is equivalent to two new large-scale ethanol plants.

If recent estimates are correct then the leak has discharged over 140 million gallons (536 m litres) of crude oil into the Gulf. Today’s typical large-scale plants found in the mid-west U.S. can produce up to 100 million gallons per year (400 m litres per year).

“We have a very clear choice today between issuing new offshore drilling licenses or building new biofuels production plants,” said Mr. Baker. “The reality is that there has never been a biofuels spill that has contaminated a single beach in the world,” said Mr. Baker.

It is estimated that half of all new oil and gas reserves discovered in the past ten years have been offshore. “The risk to our oceans from oil disasters has never been greater,” said Mr. Baker. “There is no doubt that growing our global biofuels industry today will prevent future offshore disasters,” said Baker.   

Global ethanol production is expected to hit 85.9 billion litres (22.6 b gallons) in 2010 or about 1 million barrels per day. In 2010 the ethanol industry alone will displace the need for over 370 million barrels of oil.

“The arctic is the latest frontier in offshore oil exploration where companies work in unbearable conditions in the search for new reserves. The potential for an environmental disaster in this fragile environment is infinitely greater than the Gulf of Mexico,” said Mr. Baker 
 
The Global Renewable Fuels Alliance is a non-profit organization dedicated to promoting biofuels friendly policies internationally. Alliance members represent over 65% of the global biofuels production from 44 countries. Through the development of new technologies and best practices, the Alliance members are committed to producing renewable fuels with the smallest possible footprint. 

North American Contact: Mr. Bliss Baker
Work: - (Country code “1”) 416-847-6497
Mobile: 647-309-0058
www.globalrfa.org
Email: info@globalrfa.org

European Contact: Mr. Christophe Bourillon
Mobile: + 33 615 938 445
Email: bourillon@ebio.org