Two independent studies in the journal Science report that the clearing of forests, grasslands, and other ecosystems throughout the world to grow corn, soybean, and other food-for-fuels will double greenhouse emissions over the next 30 years. Because plants and soil hold enormous quantities of carbon, destroying existing plants and tilling the soil releases the stored carbon.

Until now, the effect of land conversions was a mere footnote in the calculation. But “when you take this into account,” explains one of the study’s lead researchers Timothy Searchinger of Princeton University, “most of the biofuel that people are using or planning to use would probably increase greenhouse gases substantially.” Furthermore, he adds: “It is major. The comparison with fossil fuels is going to be adverse for virtually all biofuels on cropland.”

The second study by scientists from the University of Minnesota and The Nature Conservancy estimate that in the United States, converting the Central grasslands into corn ethanol emits so much carbon dioxide, it would take almost a century—93 years—to offset the damage.

Even switchgrass, touted as the future of biofuels because it is abundant, easy to grow, and doesn’t compete as a food source, would release stored carbon and increase greenhouse emissions an estimated 50 percent.

If not to reduce carbon emissions, then for what? To reduce dependency on foreign oil? Wrong choice again. The punitive tax bill now before the Senate taxes the nation’s largest oil companies while letting foreign producers off scott-free. It doesn’t take an energy expert to know punishing U.S. oil production will discourage investment in domestic supplies and increase our dependence on foreign oil.

In short, Washington’s distorted policies forcing biofuel usage on Americans are hurting consumers by driving up food and gas prices to historic levels. Fuel for thought: unless we reverse course, Congress’ bad choices could lead to world starvation, all the while increasing our dependence on foreign oil and furthering carbon emissions.