CibbuanoIs ethanol a big scam?
December 3rd 2007 18:51
There's a lot of controversy of the 'ethanol solution' , especially as a replacement for oil-based fuels. In the US, ethanol seems like the least painful substitute... it can be used as a mix with gasoline without too much trouble, and slightly modified cars can use it wholesale. Plus, it's made from agricultural products, of which there is no shortage in the States.
The controversy is over the side effects from switching to a biofuel infrastructure. An online post at the Wall Street Journal is further drawing skepticism on ethanol.
The article notes that several associations and committees have strong criticisms against ethanol: the strain on water supplies, the resulting air pollution, the increase in food prices.
Between the cynicism of ethanol as a viable fuel and the shrinking profits, ethanol is looking like more and more like oil's ugly cousin.
From the article:
"The fortunes of many U.S. farmers, farm towns and ethanol companies are tied to corn-based ethanol, of which America is the largest producer. Ethanol is also a cornerstone of President Bush's push to reduce dependence on foreign oil. But the once-booming business has gone in the dumps, with profits squeezed, plans for new plants shelved in certain cases, and stock prices hovering near 52-week lows."
To me, every argument against ethanol is easily accompanied by an argument for. It's not an easy issue to draw fundamental conclusions, unfortunately... but there has been a change in public opinion. In 2006, ethanol was the golden boy... now it's angering farmers that have to pay more for feedstock, angering food companies, and scratching at hopeful investors.
Are there solutions? It's a murky field of alternative fuels at the moment...
*this image is from the WSJ
The controversy is over the side effects from switching to a biofuel infrastructure. An online post at the Wall Street Journal is further drawing skepticism on ethanol.
The article notes that several associations and committees have strong criticisms against ethanol: the strain on water supplies, the resulting air pollution, the increase in food prices.
Between the cynicism of ethanol as a viable fuel and the shrinking profits, ethanol is looking like more and more like oil's ugly cousin.
From the article:
"The fortunes of many U.S. farmers, farm towns and ethanol companies are tied to corn-based ethanol, of which America is the largest producer. Ethanol is also a cornerstone of President Bush's push to reduce dependence on foreign oil. But the once-booming business has gone in the dumps, with profits squeezed, plans for new plants shelved in certain cases, and stock prices hovering near 52-week lows."
To me, every argument against ethanol is easily accompanied by an argument for. It's not an easy issue to draw fundamental conclusions, unfortunately... but there has been a change in public opinion. In 2006, ethanol was the golden boy... now it's angering farmers that have to pay more for feedstock, angering food companies, and scratching at hopeful investors.
Are there solutions? It's a murky field of alternative fuels at the moment...
*this image is from the WSJ
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Comment by Harry
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Crops planted for Ethanol are replacing food crops in many countries, including Africa, a place where in many places there are already food shortages.
Given that the CO2 advantages of using Ethanol are questionable anyway, this has to be one of the worst ideas around to combat global warming. There is some hope that ethanol can be made from the by-products of food producing crops (decomposing cellulose) and that sounds promising, but for the moment they should stick with other forms of renewable energy like wind and solar.
Comment by Cibbuano
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my opinion about energy is, no matter what the source, we're still removing energy from the Earth, and we should consider the impact.
Comment by Ashley
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My anthropology professor is really into this stuff... haha She doesn't even own a car!
Comment by Cibbuano
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Comment by Lilla
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Dig a little deeper on this one and you'll find that ethanol has gone belly up already (another plant just shut in North Dakota.
The cost of growing the corn is too high in terms of water and food supply, making the ethanol too expensive in pump-price/consumer terms.
Farmers are already re-routing their crops to other (food) markets..
Bush is the only short sighted idiot left on the planet it seems, who believes in flogging dead horses because he invested too much in ethanol, perhaps?.
Ethanol is not the answer for the future as people need food more than SUV's on the road... that's what's come through laoud and clear to me, anyhoo.
Personally, I'm glad. There are so many alternatives, as you know... hydrogen is probably the best way to go now that new markets are opening up (see my post here, or even chocolate can fuel a car here).
Not a scam, but a dud deal as prices sink on the stock market too...
Lilla ...
Comment by Cibbuano
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Hydrogen? Maybe...
Actually, I love the idea of a solar flywheel combo. Is it practical for a car - maybe not. I feel like we're almost there, though.