Wednesday, November 28, 2007
Ethanol - Pros, Cons, Opinions
It looks like everyone has a take on this.
That means there's a lot of money to be made...
That means there's a lot of money to be made...
The Wall Street Journal's Lauren Etter has the story:
"Little over a year ago, ethanol was winning the hearts and wallets of both Main Street and Wall Street, with promises of greater U.S. energy independence, fewer greenhouse gases and help for the farm economy. Today, the corn-based biofuel is under siege.
In the span of one growing season, ethanol has gone from panacea to pariah in the eyes of some. The critics, which include industries hurt when the price of corn rises, blame ethanol for pushing up food prices, question its environmental bona fides and dispute how much it really helps reduce the need for oil.
A recent study by the Organization for Economic Cooperation and Development concluded that biofuels 'offer a cure [for oil dependence] that is worse than the disease.' A National Academy of Sciences study said corn-based ethanol could strain water supplies. The American Lung Association expressed concern about a form of air pollution from burning ethanol in gasoline. Political cartoonists have taken to skewering the fuel for raising the price of food to the world's poor.
Last month, an outside expert advising the United Nations on the 'right to food' labeled the use of food crops to make biofuels 'a crime against humanity,' although the U.N. Food and Agriculture Organization later disowned the remark as 'regrettable.'"
Comments:
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The WSJ didn't tell the whole story, at least re: the ALA and ethanol.
Lauren Etter’s page one article states: “The American Lung Association expressed concern about a form of air pollution from burning ethanol in gasoline.”
Used without proper context in an article that broadly covers criticism of the ethanol industry, it appears that the American Lung Association is an ethanol critic. This is not true. The American Lung Association recognizes that alternative fuels can play an important role in the reduction of fossil fuel use and that they can vary significantly in their impact on lung health because of their composition and application.
For example, the American Lung Association of the Upper Midwest has led a nationally-recognized E85 (an ethanol-based alternative fuel that can be used in flex-fuel vehicles) pilot program since 1998. We remain a strong supporter of E85 and biodiesel, both of which have been tested and approved by the Environmental Protection Agency as cleaner-burning alternatives to traditional petroleum fuels.
Lauren Etter’s page one article states: “The American Lung Association expressed concern about a form of air pollution from burning ethanol in gasoline.”
Used without proper context in an article that broadly covers criticism of the ethanol industry, it appears that the American Lung Association is an ethanol critic. This is not true. The American Lung Association recognizes that alternative fuels can play an important role in the reduction of fossil fuel use and that they can vary significantly in their impact on lung health because of their composition and application.
For example, the American Lung Association of the Upper Midwest has led a nationally-recognized E85 (an ethanol-based alternative fuel that can be used in flex-fuel vehicles) pilot program since 1998. We remain a strong supporter of E85 and biodiesel, both of which have been tested and approved by the Environmental Protection Agency as cleaner-burning alternatives to traditional petroleum fuels.
# posted by 
: Thu Nov 29, 03:42:00 PM EST
: Thu Nov 29, 03:42:00 PM EST
Thank you for your comment.
I am well aware of the importance of proper context in our sound bite society.
Unfortunately, sound bites are used and abused ubiquitously in today's society. Frankly, I don't believe anyone has the time and resources to become well informed on any more than a few subjects. As a result, we are more likely to believe a good "saleperson", whether their facts are correct or not.
The "bad" guys know that, just as well as the "good" guys do, so the problem for us all is to identify which is which; and, that puts us back to the beginning.
It certainly is a conundrum.
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I am well aware of the importance of proper context in our sound bite society.
Unfortunately, sound bites are used and abused ubiquitously in today's society. Frankly, I don't believe anyone has the time and resources to become well informed on any more than a few subjects. As a result, we are more likely to believe a good "saleperson", whether their facts are correct or not.
The "bad" guys know that, just as well as the "good" guys do, so the problem for us all is to identify which is which; and, that puts us back to the beginning.
It certainly is a conundrum.
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