It's important to get this piece of the argument against ethanol correct.
Ethanol proponents will say that the corn grown to produce ethanol is not corn that's fit for human consumption, so growing corn for fuel doesn't affect food prices.
That's complete bullshit.
While it may be true that the corn grown for ethanol production isn't fit for human (or animal) consumption, the land used to grow ethanol producing corn is land that would otherwise be used to grow food!
By reducing the amount of usable land to grow food, ethanol does in fact INCREASE food prices across the board for EVERYONE.
Making ethanol is also a NET LOSS in terms of energy. It takes more energy to produce it than burning ethanol actually creates. Cars for example, lose anywhere from 1-3mpg as a result of just 10% ethanol in every gallon of gas. That means every vehicle on the road burns more fuel, not less per every 100 miles driven.
Then there's the argument that ethanol actually increases pollution, I'll save that one for another time.
It's important to get this piece of the argument against ethanol correct.
Yes, and you didn't.
Ethanol proponents will say that the corn grown to produce ethanol is not corn that's fit for human consumption, so growing corn for fuel doesn't affect food prices. That's complete bullshit.
No, it isn't. It also doesn't or barely affects feed prices.
While it may be true that the corn grown for ethanol production isn't fit for human (or animal) consumption
It is absolutely fit for livestock feed, that was the traditional purpose for that crop in hog and beef producing states. Furthermore, due to bio-processing, the spent mash, after the alcohol is extracted is a superior feed to the unprocessed corn. They then sell it as livestock feed.
the land used to grow ethanol producing corn is land that would otherwise be used to grow food!
Wrong again honey.
Ever been to the Cornhusker State? Their corn is basically a hydroponic crop, where they plant hybrid feed corn in the almost STERILE SAND and irrigate the hell out of it with anhydrous ammonia etc as a fertilizer. The sand just holds up the corn-stalks. If they could grow anything else there, they would.
By reducing the amount of usable land to grow food, ethanol does in fact INCREASE food prices across the board for EVERYONE.
Really? I can buy 5 ears of sweet corn in Maine for a buck...How much cheaper can you expect it to be? Corn chips are two bucks a bag, but how do you explain the outrageous prices they are getting for potato chips?
Otherwise, you're probably right.
But they should be making booze out of the corn-squeezins and GIVING it to the terrorists.
Good post. BUMP!