Myth: Ethanol is Great

If ethanol's so good, why does it need government subsidies? Without subsidies, ethanol would cost much more than gasoline. The claim that using ethanol will save energy is another myth. Studies show that the amount of energy ethanol produces and the amount needed to make it are roughly the same. And because ethanol degrades, it can't be moved in pipelines the way that gasoline can. So many more big, polluting trucks will be needed to haul it. More bad news: The increased push for ethanol has already led to a sharp increase in corn-growing, which means much more land must be plowed. That means much more fertilizer, more water used on farms and more pesticides. A University of Minnesota study shows that even turning all of America's corn into ethanol would meet only 12 percent of our gasoline demand. Studies indicate that the standard mixture of 90 percent ethanol and 10 percent gasoline pollutes worse than gasoline. Virtually all studies show that the greenhouse gases associated with ethanol are about the same as those associated with conventional gasoline once we examine the entire life cycle of the two fuels. Surely, ethanol must be good for something. And here we finally have a fact. It is good for something - or at least someone: corn farmers and processors of ethanol, such as Archer Daniels Midland, the big food processor known for its savvy at getting subsidies out of the taxpayers.

The Many Myths of Ethanol (ABC News)
http://abcnews.go.com/2020/story?id=3204163

Ethanol And Biodiesel From Crops Not Worth The Energy (Science Daily)
http://www.sciencedaily.com/releases/2005/07/050705231841.htm

Ethanol Fuel From Corn Faulted As "Unsustainable Subsidized Food Burning" In Analysis By Cornell Scientist (Science Daily)
http://www.sciencedaily.com/releases/2001/08/010808135444.htm

Ethanol Vehicles Pose Significant Risk To Health, New Study Finds (Science Daily)
http://www.sciencedaily.com/releases/2007/04/070418072616.htm

Fuel Ethanol Cannot Alleviate U.S. Dependence On Petroleum (Science Daily)
http://www.sciencedaily.com/releases/2005/07/050704110527.htm

Increase In Ethanol Production From Corn Could Significantly Harm Water Quality (Science Daily)
http://www.sciencedaily.com/releases/2007/10/071010120538.htm

Study: Ethanol Production Consumes Six Units Of Energy To Produce Just One (Science Daily)
http://www.sciencedaily.com/releases/2005/03/050329132436.htm

Study: Ethanol won't solve energy problems (USA Today)
http://www.usatoday.com/tech/news/2006-07-10-ethanol-study_x.htm

Category:

News & Politics

Tags:

• Ethanol
• Myth
• E85
• Gas
• Gasoline
• Corn
• Subsidies
• Alternative
• Energy
• Renewable
• Environment
• Biofuel
• Biodiesel
• Problems
• John
• Stossel

[144pieces]

Trash Fuel! Damaging to motors, Carbs, hoses

[144pieces]

Ethenol has caused damage to many small outboard engines, hoses, carburators and breaks down while sitting in the fuel tank causing the engines to run Bad! Great video! I do not like ethenol!

[drackxman]

Ethanol is a JUNK Fuel. It's all about the Green People and their agenda. It's about controling the people by keeping costs of everything high.

[wellitis]

If Environmentalists And Big Oil Are Both Opposed To Something It's Probably A Bad Idea The announcement was hailed as a first step toward expanding Ethanol use by the Ethanol industry and farm state politicians, but Environmentalists and Oil Lobbyists alike blasted the administration for pandering to farm interests. The corn lobby has been pushing this idea for many months.

[hoppinglark]

IF they like it so much, then maybe they should talk to congress about making it legal for private citizens to have a still in his or her own home.

[gavincurtis]

Ethanol fuel sucks for small engines or applications having vented fuel tanks. Every small engine I own has required carburetor rebuilds because of this crap.

Finally, a local gas station is now selling non-ethanol fuel!!!!

[saper321]

After watching this clip I want to kill all politicians. How can they get away with lies like this.

[Fira777]

I favored this video and rated 5 stars although if possible I would rate 1000 stars.

[EuphemiseThis]

I used to argue that ethanol was great because even if the price of corn went up, I would rather pay it to farmers than to the Middle East or to Exxon. Same with the price of meat because of the price of corn.

However, if it is costing nearly as much fuel to produce the corn as we are getting in ethanol then it is wasteful and producing little net fuel for the money we spend. I would rather pay the farmers than the sheiks, but not if I don't actually gain any fuel for my money!

[aaronlovespot]

i don't like it to much but it could be ok but i know it wont