In fact there is growing evidence that biofuels may actually release more CO2 emissions than conventional petroleum-based petroleum does.

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In contrast, when the palm is grown on previously cleared land, its emissions are around one fifth that for conventional petroleum-derived diesel.

FORBES: Land Use Changes Are Main Factor In Carbon Emissions From Biofuels

Neither of these products can be directly distilled into gasoline or fuel oil (kerosen, jet, and diesel) or indeed any other conventional petroleum product.

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And Canada is still fighting for an exemption from a rule inserted into the 2007 Energy Independence and Security Act that bars the American government from buying fuels whose production causes more greenhouse-gas emissions than conventional petroleum sources, as producing oil from tar sands does.

ECONOMIST: Stephen Harper looks to Washington, not Alberta