--I see ethanol production actually putting more carbon into the atmosphere. Fosil fuel carbons will be used to form the new fuel. New and old carbon released instead of just the old.--
We are putting more into the atmosphere but we are also removing more. The net carbon added to the atmosphere is reduced.
It sort of like this. A guy presently buys a case of beer a week and stores it in his garage. At the end of the year he will have 365 cases in the garage and a mad wife. Now, to make her happy, he buys a case and a six pack each week but drinks a case. Now they are both happier.
Diesel burned to plant and harvest and transport the corn.
Coal burned to make electricity for converting corn to ethanol.
Ethanol, with current year carbon from atmospere, burned as fuel returns carbon to atmosphere. (Beer drinker drinks all the beer at the end of the year)
I see an increase in carbon released.