Ethanol from Corn

In the U.S. politicians in both parties have jumped onto the bandwagon of ethanol from corn as the panacea for our energy problems. However, this is just not the case. There are even differing studies as to whether corn ethanol produces more energy than it takes to grow corn and convert it into fuel. One study (Science Daily, July 12, 2006) simply states it tracked the energy needed for growing and converting corn to fuel and that ethanol provided 25% more energy. Another study (Science Daily July 6, 2005) was more specific and said the detailed analysis done included the energy used in producing the crop, including production of pesticides and fertilizer, running farm machinery and irrigating, grinding and transporting the crop and the production of the ethanol. This latter study found that it took 29 percent more fossil fuel energy than the fuel produced. Neither study took in to account the energy required to try to manage or clean up the pollution caused by the production of fuel from corn. Other problems are the greenhouse gases produced in the process and the ground water and runoff pollution from the fertilizers used. There is already a large dead zone in the Gulf of Mexico from the runoff of fertilizers that is killing plants, fish, shrimp and other sea life. Another problem is the increase in food prices from diverting corn from animal feed to fuel. Meat, milk and eggs have been directly affected and other foods as well since corn by-products are in many foods. The recently passed and signed energy bill mandates a seven-fold increase in the production of ethanol from both corn and cellulosic sources. Ethanol from cellulose, corn cobs, wood chips, prairie and other sources may not require as much fertilizer but also has problems. Ethanol as a liquid fuel has other problems in that it degrades and can not be transported by pipeline but must be transported by truck, etc. More at a later date.