Undoing America's Ethanol Mistake

IBD ^ | April 25, 2008 | SEN. KAY BAILEY HUTCHISON

[Kaslin]

The Nobel Prize-winning economist Milton Friedman once said, "One of the great mistakes is to judge policies and programs by their intentions rather than their results."

When Congress passed legislation to greatly expand America's commitment to biofuels, it intended to create energy independence and protect the environment.

But the results have been quite different. America remains equally dependent on foreign sources of energy, and new evidence suggests that ethanol is causing great harm to the environment.

In recent weeks, the correlation between government biofuel mandates and rapidly rising food prices has become undeniable. At a time when the U.S. economy is facing recession, Congress needs to reform its "food-to-fuel" policies and look at alternatives to strengthen energy security.

On Dec. 19, 2007, President Bush signed into law the Energy Independence and Security Act. This legislation had several positive features, including higher fuel standards for cars and greater investment in renewable energies such as solar power.

However, the bill required a huge spike in the biofuel production requirement, from 7.5 billion gallons in 2012 to 36 billion in 2022.

This was a well-intentioned measure, but it was also impractical. Nearly all our domestic corn and grain supply is needed to meet this mandate, robbing the world of one of its most important sources of food.

We are already seeing the ill effects of this measure. Last year, 25% of America's corn crop was diverted to produce ethanol. In 2008, that number will grow to 30%-35%, and it will soar even higher in the years to come.

[VOA]

Livestock feed lots spring up next to ethonal plants to make use of
the leftovers.

Maybe this accounts for one exception to the significant rise in
food prices we're seeing here in Mid-Missouri.

While virtually food item seems to be rising in price, we've had
steady-to-declining cost of some pork products. Maybe it's due
to increased supply (lower cost) of food source for pigs?

[gogogodzilla]

Maybe. I do know that chickens can’t eat the distillery by-products.

[neverdem]

BTTT!

[AFPhys]

It is nice to see that at least one politician gets it.

I don’t have much hope that this stoooopid drive to BURN FOOD will be allayed, but at least there’s some small hope.