Ethanol as Renewable Energy

This brief research paper analyzes and compares the merits of biodiesel versus ethanol and concludes, "Transportation biofuels such as synfuel hydrocarbons or cellulosic ethanol, if produced from low-input biomass grown on agriculturally marginal land or from waste biomass, could provide much greater supplies and environmental benefits than food-based biofuels."

This article summarizes some of the key findings of Cornell University agricultural scientist David Pimentel, who concludes that E85 is not a sustainable fuel source.

Istook combines the findings from multiple distinguished authors to show how ethanol is harming not only U.S. consumers, but also consumers abroad (especially those in third world countries). He argues that the U.S. must end the subsidy of ethanol, but acknowledges the difficulty involved in such a move.

"The federal government has done much to boost the U.S. ethanol industry and is largely responsible for the growing use of this costly fuel additive. Now, Congress should do something for America's drivers by ending tariffs that limit imports of cheaper ethanol that could help lower pump prices. Even by the standards of special-interest-driven Washington, the ethanol industry gets an unusually...

After discussing and dismissing four major myths associated with biofuels, Holt-Gimenez concludes, "A global moratorium on the expansion of biofuels is needed to develop regulatory structures and foster conservation and development alternatives to the transition. We need the time to make a better transition to food and fuel sovereignty."

"There are two prominent justifications for biofuel subsidies—to reduce gasoline consumption and carbon dioxide emissions. But how much does it cost to achieve these goals? According to the Congressional Budget Office (CBO) ..., subsidies for biofuels are costly to consumers and have high abatement costs for mitigating carbon dioxide emissions."

"Figure 1 illustrates the crucial idea that biofuel production affects many different markets, including markets for inputs (e.g., land and water) as well as markets for agricultural products and biofuel coproducts (e.g., food and animal feed). For this reason, many factors can affect the costs of producing biofuels and the prices at which they can be sold. Similarly, many factors can affect...

"Several factors have limited growth in E85 sales. From 2004-2008 E85 accounted for less than 1% of U.S. gasoline demand. ... Among the more important are the limited number of compatible vehicles and the small number of fueling stations. But perhaps the most significant factor in preventing E85 consumption is its high cost at the pump when compared to E10 gasoline. E85 has been more expensive...

This report concludes that "it is neither moral nor constructive to shift major amounts of the world's food supply to fuel production when significant elements of the world's people remain ill-fed. It is neither moral nor constructive to needlessly destroy broad tracts of wildlands for fuel crops when alternative energy sources, such as nuclear power, are not being used. And it is a dreadful...

This report acknowledges that the growing ethanol market has broad policy failures. It states that "without appropriate information, incentives, and rules, the biofuels industry is likely to expand production in environmentally harmful ways." This report proposes an index to track the environmental effects of biofuels.

"This publication reviews the history of U.S. ethanol policy, explains the economics of ethanol production in today's market environment, and outlines some policy alternatives that could be considered for the future."

"The Federal government provides a range of subsidies, tax incentives, and regulatory mandates to promote the use of ethanol and other renewable fuels into the national gasoline pool. ... Until recently, ethanol use was limited by law to a maximum of 10% of the gasoline pool, or as a specialty fuel at high levels of concentration (a 70-85% blend called E85) for use only in 'flex-fuel' vehicles...

Taylor and Van Doren equate corn ethanol to a religion, arguing that it, "...is more a religion than a reasoned proposition." They go on to explain how production of corn ethanol really only benefits the corn farmers and investors in ethanol plants. They also argue that ethanol will in no way help prevent terrorism or increase our national security.

Podcast: Mark Jacobson: The Truth About Ethanol
Mark Jacobson
PodTech
April 6, 2007

"Mark Jacobson is a leading expert in wind energy and the atmosphere. He hears some of the claims being made on behalf of E85 - that it's supposed to be cleaner, that...

"New research indicates that corn-based ethanol is more costly to human health and the environment than gasoline. The research also indicates that biofuels from non-food crops may be less costly."

This law established the Renewable Fuel Standard. It mandated gasoline to contain 7.5 million gallons of renewable fuel annually by 2012.

"With shortages of fossil energy and heavy biomass energy use occurring in both developed and developing countries, a major focus has developed worldwide on renewable energy systems. Currently, a heavy focus is on biofuels made from crops, crop residues and wood.Though it may seem beneficial to use renewable plant materials for biofuel, their use raises many concerns about major environmental...

Produced by the National Association of Scholars, this resource provides "key names, terms, and organizations that" relate to the "sustainability movement."