The advantages of biofuel production are as numerous as the criticisms levied against it.
In an ideal world, using biomass from plant materials or even algae would drastically decrease carbon emissions and end dependence on foreign oil.
But the truth is that biofuel is inefficient, hasn’t been thoroughly tested and, worst of all, it contributes to rising food prices and food shortages in third world countries.
At least, that is what its critics would like you to believe.
In fact, the reality is quite the opposite, and widespread misconceptions about biofuels are preventing the shift to an era of clean, renewable energy.
With little to no modification, diesel engines are able to run off biodiesel, which is derived from recycled plant and cooking oil.
For SUV and truck drivers, the change would require the amount of effort it takes to reach for a different pump at the station.
A noteworthy distinction to make is that biodiesel, intended for diesel engines, is not the same as ethanol, which is made primarily from corn and intended for gasoline engines.
Unlike the U.S., Germany has embraced biofuels across many sectors of society. Government incentive in the form of subsidies and investment in the industry has made Germany the leading biofuel producer in Europe.
In fact, the renewable energy is so popular, it’s even been embraced by Germany’s pop culture.
Michael Schmidt, a.k.a “Smudo,” is the front man of Die Fantastischen Vier (The Fantastic Four), one of Germany’s most successful hip-hop groups.
In addition to being a highly influential musician, Smudo is also a prominent figure in Germany’s racecar industry. He competes in numerous races using cars that run on 100 percent biodiesel supplied by Finland’s Neste Oil, one of the world’s largest biodiesel producers.
He has become “bigger than (David) Hasselhoff," as Josh Tickell says in his 2008 documentary, “Fuel.”
Smudo has been a tenacious advocate for renewable fuels and demonstrates so by utilizing his success as a rapper to create a presence of biofuel cars in the country’s widely popular sport.
It is disappointing that in the U.S., prominent musicians do not advocate for industries that could potentially create a future free from dependence on foreign oil, as well as environmentally harmful methods of domestic energy production.
Perhaps widespread misconceptions of biofuels would be alleviated if rap artists who hold as much clout here as Smudo does in Germany made renewable energy advocacy a priority.
For this reason, I suggest that artists like Kanye West and Jay-Z release a compilation album in which they cover famous hip-hop songs and make them biofuel-friendly.
I even took the liberty of rewriting a few.
For Jay-Z’s 2004 hit single, the new version would be, “I got 99 problems, but a carbon-intensive car ain’t one.”
Or for an even more classic track, Eazy E’s 1998 single, “Boyz-n-the-hood,” would start, “Woke up quick, at about noon, just had to get to the biodiesel refueling station soon”.
It’s the perfect marriage between hip-hop and a fossil fuel-free future.
Reach the columnist at Daniel.a.mills@asu.edu
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