And the Obama administration has issued new guidelines that could pave the way for a major increase in production of biofuels including corn-based ethanol. On Wednesday, the Environmental Protection Agency said ethanol could help curb emissions by replacing conventional fuels. The finding reverses an earlier EPA stance that called for limiting ethanol use, because its direct and indirect greenhouse emissions exceed renewable energy standards. Ethanol has also been criticized for diverting food crops to produce fuel. In a statement, Friends of the Earth said, “The EPA [has] acknowledged…corn ethanol production is driving the destruction of natural areas around the world, which in turn leads to biodiversity loss and immense carbon emissions. The EPA’s greenhouse gas emissions model should be greeted with skepticism.”