by Daniel J. Gansle

Created on: December 31, 2008

Is ethanol a viable long-term source of renewable energy? It all depends on what type of ethanol we're talking about.

In his 2006 State of the Union Address, President George W. Bush warned Americans that we are "addicted to oil." An oil man himself, the president knew all too well that contentious Middle East petroleum is not simply an energy problem, but a national security issue as well.

Mr. Bush's answer to the oil problem was to increase federal funding for the production of a biofuel called grain-based ethanol. While on the face of it grain-based ethanol does in fact lessen dependence on foreign oil, its consequences cannot be ignored: no fewer greenhouse gases are emitted, and using food for fuel is causing a rise in food prices around the globe.

To be fair, Mr. Bush also funded research and development of an emerging type of ethanol that is not derived from food: cellulosic ethanol which is derived from biomass including wood chips and switchgrass. It is this type of ethanol that has the most potential in the years to come. But first, let's take a look at the ramifications of short-term grain-based ethanol and how using food for fuel is untenable in the long term.

What Is E-85 Corn-Based Ethanol?
The most widely produced grain-based type of ethanol is made from corn. Corn-based ethanol, a.k.a. E-85, is a mixture of eighty-five percent ethanol and fifteen percent gasoline. On the surface, E-85 appears to be a worthy competitor in the renewable fuel arena. But recent studies have shown that overall production of E-85 may emit just as much atmospheric carbon dioxide into the air, if not more so, than traditional energy production. Furthermore, food crops have been displaced for the purpose of growing corn specifically for ethanol production.

Environmental Consequences of Grain-Based Ethanol Production
For the sake of example, let's take a look at the environmental consequences of grain-based ethanol production in the Amazon rainforest.

Today, we see vast tracts of rainforest currently being denuded not simply for the new Amazon oil drilling boom, but also for the planting of corn and soybeans strictly for the production of ethanol. So when one factors in the excess carbon dioxide released into the atmosphere from tree felling, intensive agricultural activities, ethanol production, and fuel transportation over long distances, the net carbon dioxide emissions are virtually equal to or slightly greater than current methods of energy production.

Socioeconomic Consequences

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