This is a silly little film that does more damage to green initiatives and the alternative energy effort than good.
"Fields of Fuel" is light on any real understanding of facts, science, or the economic/environmental impacts of biodiesel... but it does offer several scenes of Tickell and little kids sticking their biodiesel-dipped fingers into their mouths and saying "Mmmm.. tastes like veggies!"
"Fields of Fuel" tries to manipulate emotions, fears, and pocketbooks, riding on several pseudo-socio-economic bandwagons (global warming, Hurricane Katrina, oil refinery pollution, rising gasoline prices, 9/11, Iraq war, plight of the American farmer). Why? Because the companies and agencies that funded "Fields of Fuel" themselves want more funding. How does it do it? 1) Present biodiesel as the panacea to the societal ills brought on by decades of fossil-fuel industry irresponsibility 2) Disregard the economics of scale that would be required for biodiesel to provide even a drop in the ocean of the United States' energy needs 3) Make no mention of other alternative energy sources (nuclear, solar, hydrogen) that provide more sustainable energy cycles and exponentially more scalable economics. 4) Villify large corporations, sanctify farmers, and deify small biodiesel companies and startups... as someone has to fund and benefit from this transparent schlockumentary.
But "Fields of Fuel" does artfully accomplish one thing: 1) Drag out the usual cast of cretins from the Hollywood ignorancia for their two-minute talking heads. Entertainment-only value.
From an alternative energy perspective, that's it. However, the parties with vested interests (biodiesel startups and agriculture agencies) that funded it should be happy with their feel-good, hour and a half infomercial. Just don't expect anything more.
"Fields of Fuel" is light on any real understanding of facts, science, or the economic/environmental impacts of biodiesel... but it does offer several scenes of Tickell and little kids sticking their biodiesel-dipped fingers into their mouths and saying "Mmmm.. tastes like veggies!"
"Fields of Fuel" tries to manipulate emotions, fears, and pocketbooks, riding on several pseudo-socio-economic bandwagons (global warming, Hurricane Katrina, oil refinery pollution, rising gasoline prices, 9/11, Iraq war, plight of the American farmer). Why? Because the companies and agencies that funded "Fields of Fuel" themselves want more funding. How does it do it? 1) Present biodiesel as the panacea to the societal ills brought on by decades of fossil-fuel industry irresponsibility 2) Disregard the economics of scale that would be required for biodiesel to provide even a drop in the ocean of the United States' energy needs 3) Make no mention of other alternative energy sources (nuclear, solar, hydrogen) that provide more sustainable energy cycles and exponentially more scalable economics. 4) Villify large corporations, sanctify farmers, and deify small biodiesel companies and startups... as someone has to fund and benefit from this transparent schlockumentary.
But "Fields of Fuel" does artfully accomplish one thing: 1) Drag out the usual cast of cretins from the Hollywood ignorancia for their two-minute talking heads. Entertainment-only value.
From an alternative energy perspective, that's it. However, the parties with vested interests (biodiesel startups and agriculture agencies) that funded it should be happy with their feel-good, hour and a half infomercial. Just don't expect anything more.