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Ethanol’s future more than just corn
Published Tuesday, May 13, 2008
During a U.S. House hearing last week, corn ethanol took a beating from lawmakers who bemoan rising food prices. Some, including presumptive Republican presidential nominee John McCain, are even asking the Environmental Protection Agency to cut this year’s requirement for 9 billion gallons of corn ethanol in half to ease food prices.
However, that would be a mistake.
Corn is the easiest crop in this part of the world to get ethanol from, and the emerging industry has led to record crop prices for corn growers. As the technology progresses, less corn will be needed as the industry improves its ability to use other crops and switchgrass to produce the fuel. Cutting the requirement for ethanol will take pressure off the industry to produce ethanol from other sources.
In Brazil, for example, most of the country’s ethanol is produced from sugarcane, which grows easily in its climate. In order for ethanol to be a true savior from foreign oil for our country, we will need to look harder at other sources.
Thankfully, the new farm bill calls for $400 million for cellulosic ethanol research and development — making ethanol from wood chips, switchgrass and even garbage.
As the federal mandate for ethanol reaches higher — 36 billion gallons a year by 2022 from about 7 billion gallons last year — it’s clear that we will need to produce it from more than just corn. Whether or not corn is the culprit for rising food prices, using other sources for ethanol is a necessity.
Comments
The Daily Journal is happy to host community conversations about news and life in Fergus Falls and the surrounding area. As hosts, we expect guests will show respect for each other. That means we don't threaten or defame each other, and we keep conversations free of personal attacks. Witty is great. Abusive is not. If you think a post violates these standards, don't escalate the situation. Instead, flag the comment to alert us. We'll take action if necessary. It's not hard. This should be a place where people want to read and contribute -- a place for spirited exchanges of opinion. So those who persist with racist, defamatory or abusive postings risk losing the privilege to post at all.Posted by thethinker (anonymous) on May 13, 2008 at 4:53 p.m. (Suggest removal)
Ethanol is extremely subsidised by the govt. If it weren't, the farmers wouldn't grow it. Is an inferior fuel to oil. It is also leading directly to the increase in food prices (along with the inflated price of oil and the fuels that come from it). As food prices rise - and it seems they will continue to do so - people will have less and less desposalble income. You see, food is a basic necessity. And corn is used in so much food that its' price increase directly impacts other foods. Eventually something's gotta give. There are alread riots in other parts of the world over food prices. Could such actions occur here? It is certainly possible and not just over food prices.
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