crudeoilcrackhead

Ethanol: Our Answer to Reducing U.S. Dependence on Foreign Oil

Dear Rickh,
One can be concerned about the dead zone as well as the food supply, they are not mutually exclusive. Ethanol is not produced from food grade corn. You will not "create less pollution." The excess fertilizer that will be released in the gulf will cause severe damage to the gulf and the fisherman working there. What I think you fail to understand is what Subsidy Eye keeps pointing out, ethanol is not as effecient as gasoline. "There is no free lunch." Friedman had it right

Ethanol: Our Answer to Reducing U.S. Dependence on Foreign Oil

Somewhere Ricardo is laughing his a** off. there are to many unforeseen variables with corn based ethanol. My biggest concern is how much larger this will make the deadzone grow. It will make New Orleans more vulnerable to huricanes, species will die out, fisherman will lose jobs, fertilizer will continue to increase in price which we will pay for everytime we go to the grocery store, there is less incentive for automakers to improve their product, it is not effecient, food riots will continue around the world, as a direct consequence of our desire to burn food, etc. Don't be fooled by the auto industry, ag industry, big oil, and all the other sectors that have a horse in this race. There is no magic bullet, but there is a good cocktail for this problem which includes solar, drilling, wind, nuclear, hydro and geothermal. Growing corn, as glamorous as it sounds, should play little or no role in the solution.

Ethanol: Our Answer to Reducing U.S. Dependence on Foreign Oil

Ethanol made from corn is a poor idea overall. There is no excuse for it. Growing this much corn will do severe damage to the ecology of the Gulf of Mexico and creates a massive dead zone. The whole concept of improving the fuel instead of improving the engine is laughable. Corn based ethanol is way to keep consumers hooked on oil, not reduce dependance.