Metropolitan King County Councilmember Reagan Dunn, chair of the Council's Regional Transit Committee, has introduced legislation calling for a full "life-cycle analysis" of the canola-based biodiesel fuel blend that is currently being used extensively by the King County Metro bus fleet.

"We need to determine if, in fact, our biofuel policies are worsening climate change and leading to higher food prices around the world," said Dunn. "We also need to see if county taxpayers are at additional financial risk because we are a member of the Chicago Climate Exchange."

Recent reports from global leaders and the scientific world are increasingly concluding that biofuels, such as corn ethanol, sugarcane ethanol, and biodiesel are leading to severe unintended consequences. Peer-reviewed science journals, and international organizations are now indicating that biofuels may actually do more damage to the environment than fossil fuels and contribute to world hunger. A full life-cycle analysis of the canola biodiesel will determine the total amount of greenhouse gas emissions and environmental impact generated throughout the entire development of the fuel. It examines the impacts from land-clearing, planting, harvesting, transportation, biodiesel conversion, blending, and usage of the fuel.

In addition to environmental impacts, Dunn is asking the county executive to establish recommendations for alternative climate change mitigation strategies that take into consideration the county's financial liability as a member of the Chicago Climate Exchange.