Weekly 5: Biofuels worse for climate change than gasoline, study says

The BI Weekly 5 is a collection of tips, news and data affecting the boating industry this week. Be sure to look for the BI Weekly 5 every week on BoatingIndustry.com.

1. Study: Biofuels worse for climate change than gasoline

A new study from the University of Michigan is adding more data to the debate over biofuels such as ethanol, the Detroit Free Press reports.

Biofuels cause more emissions of climate change-causing carbon dioxide than gasoline, according to the study from Energy Institute research professor John DeCicco.

“This pulls the rug out from under over a decade’s worth of public policy in this area,” DeCicco told the paper.

The Renewable Fuels Association challenged the findings.

“This is the same study, same flawed methodology and same fallacious result that Professor DeCicco has churned out multiple times in the past,” Geoff Cooper, the association’s senior vice president, told the paper. “He has been making these arguments for years, and for years they have been rejected by climate scientists, regulatory bodies and governments around the world, and reputable life-cycle analysis experts.”

2. Industry mourns Georgia boating icon

Bolling Douglas, who spent 45 years of volunteer service in the boating industry, including service as an officer with the U.S. Coast Guard Auxiliary, head of safety for the sailing events at the 1996 Olympics, and positions with several associations, has died at the age of 90, Lakeside News reports.

3. Proposal to eradicate California’s bass population withdrawn

The American Sportfishing Association cheered the news last week that a petition to target for eradication striped and black (largemouth and smallmouth) bass as an invasive species in the Sacramento-San Joaquin Delta and its tributaries had been withdrawn.

The petition was withdrawn just days before it was scheduled to go before California Fish and Wildlife Commission.

“Our coalition had science on our side and we were able to show the Fish and Wildlife Commission that all fish need water and this was simply a water grab that sought to make striped bass and largemouth and smallmouth bass the scapegoats for the status of salmon stocks,” said ASA Government Affairs Vice President Scott Gudes.

4. NMMA: Diesel engines shipments up 1 percent

Wholesale shipments of diesel inboard and sterndrive engines less than 800hp were up 1 percent YOY in the first half of 2016 for NMMA’s control group of manufacturers, the association reported.

5. What you need to know about Facebook page design changes

You may not have seen it yet, but a new design is coming to Facebook pages. It’s already been rolled out to some users, and Social Media Examiner has the key info you need to know about how the new design could affect your marketing.

 

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