"Professor" Branestawm and the Renewable Ideas Obligation

"Professor" Ed Gallagher, was formerly the Chief Executive of the Environment Agency (and previously Chief Executive of the National Rivers Authority from 1992 until 1995) since February he has been Chairman of the Board of Directors of The Renewable Fuels Agency, which is is a Non-Departmental Public Body (NDPB) which has been established to administer the Government's Renewable Transport Fuel Obligation (RTFO) and to report to Ministers and to Parliament on its impacts.

The RTFO, which came into effect on 15 April 2008, requires suppliers of fossil fuels to ensure that a specified percentage of the road fuels they supply in the UK is made up of renewable fuels. The target for the first year of the obligation, 2008-9, is 2.5% by volume. It came into effect on 15 April 2008.

As well as obliging fuel suppliers to meet targets for the volumes of biofuels supplied, the RTFO requires companies to submit reports on the carbon emission savings and sustainability of the biofuels.

The RFA aims to make the registration and reporting process as clear and easy as possible for all suppliers.... making one wonder exactly how Slab Murphy and his IRA cronies in Northern Ireland handle all the necessary paperwork.

On February 24th , slim, lissome, Ruth Kelly Minister for Transport and Opus Pocus asked "Professor" Ed Gallagher him to lead a study of the wider economic and environmental impacts - particularly the indirect impacts - of different forms of biofuel production. - RFA Review of the Indirect Effects of Biofuels. (Presumably in the UK)

In establishing this study, in advance of introducing the RTFO in April it was intended to use the data gathered by handling this assistance to the Renewable Fuels industry to study the environmental effects of biofuel production. Especially in the light of continuing debate worldwide about the rapid expansion of biofuel production, and evidence of the indirect, or "displacement" impacts, of growing demand for agricultural production around the world.

A Press release from 9th January said that the study would examine how the market for biofuels is contributing to tropical deforestation and other land-use changes. In addition it will examine to what extent the growth in biofuels is contributing to increasing food prices.

Remarkably (!) this report is "leaky", as is a World Bank report on much the same subject.. when it is published , readers will be first to know what "Professor" Branestawm has to say after studying this complex subject, with its global effects, agricultural, financial and social, plus its ramifications and impact on UK Road Transport, for 3 whole months.