Jan 08 2009
We’re Just Saying, Ethanol Isn’t Perfect …
William Yeatman has this over at GlobalWarming.org:
… a global warming policy has already led to instability in the developing world. Only a couple years ago, environmentalists promoted ethanol as a “green fuel.” They were wrong. It turns out that ethanol production leads to land use changes that release more greenhouse gas into the atmosphere than is saved by ethanol use.
Worse, ethanol is made from food—corn and soy in the U.S., palm oil and wheat in the European Union. In 2008, ethanol production policies in the developed world contributed to steep inflation in the price of food, which caused urban unrest in developing countries dependent on the international grain market.
[...] We’re Just Saying, Ethanol Isn’t Perfect … Only a couple years ago, environmentalists promoted ethanol as a “green fuel.” They were wrong. It turns out that ethanol production leads to land use … See all stories on this topic [...]
Check the corn acreage numbers, they are actually dropping, maybe do some research next time ?
Steve,
Couldn’t tell: were you taking umbrage with the author’s assertion that prices are related to ethanol policies? Do you think that ethanol is an effective tool for keeping prices down?
Corn ethanol isn’t perfect, but it is a step in the right direction. Did ethanol production have an impact on food prices? Yes, but very minimal. Corn prices were driven through the roof by speculators just like oil was. If there are so many starving throughout the world because of ethanol, why are exports half of what they were a year ago now that corn is half the price? The carryout of corn into this year is again abundant even with fewer acres of corn planted. Yields will continue to improve and ethanol will not need more acres to achieve the 15 billion gallons or corn ethanol the RFS requires. If corn ethanol is supported, cellulosic ethanol will come to be. If it isn’t there will be no investment in cellulosic technology. Why all the negativity? Here are the argument points I constantly hear and an answer to them. My opinion based on research I have done.
1. It takes more energy to produce ethanol than you get from it?
Response: This study was last produced in 2003 and has been refuted by at least a dozen studies showing a positive energy balance.
2. It may not have a positive greenhouse effect in comparison to gasoline.
Response: The jury is out on this one. Those against ethanol are making this claim primarily on the assumption that more land is being cleared to make the ethanol. Although about a 25-30% of the US corn produced is used for ethanol, much of the food value is returned to the food chain in distillers grains. The weight of the distillers grain returned is about 1/3 of the weight of corn. However, corn is typically fed at about 16% moisture and DDGS is at about 10%. DDGS are also more digestible and higher in nutrition than corn. So the total corn committed to ethanol is no where near 30%.
3. Subsidies are costing taxpayers millions of dollars.
Response: Susidies paid to the ethanol industry including the blenders credit, which is paid to whoever blends the ethanol, was about 5 billion dollars in 2007. The ethanol indusrty gereated over 5 billion dollars in federal taxes last year. Tha does not include all the local taxes generated in this country. It is estimated that the ethanol industry increased the GNP by 46 billion in 2007. It is also estimated that gas prices would have been 45-60 cents higher last summer without ethanol.
Corn ethanol is not the final answer here, but it is helping us become more energy independent. At the very least there doesn’t seem to be any significant harm (finacially or environmentally) that is taking place here. Let’s see where this leads us. If we can produce a fuel source from waste product that is renewable and environmentally friendly, why not? But corn ethanol has to pave the way and build the infrastructure for that to happen. So back off and let’s give it a try. There seems to be a lot of negativity without any other solutions.