by Daniel Relph

Created on: November 22, 2009   Last Updated: November 23, 2009

Ethanol is about to boom! But, we must step back and look at the whole future economic and ecological problems we're facing. Ethanol is a good viable fuel that will be needed in the future. It is a product that will ensure our food supply and reduce food costs. It is not a substitute for oil or coal but it does have its place in the growing paradigm for zero carbon emissions.

Most people look at ethanol and think that it is a substitute for gasoline. They look at the fuel cost of fermenting, distilling and transporting the fuel and find that it is not cost effective. They then say, Ethanol is not a good way to power a car. This is true, but they have failed to look at the big picture.

Then there are those who argue that ethanol uses a tremendous amount of grain that could be better use as food. They also argue that the majority of grain grown in the United State would have to be made into ethanol in order to meet the demand of our vehicles. This is also true, but they fail to look at the big picture.

Ethanol is not gasoline. It cannot be expected to meet our demand for transportation in a society where the average commute is over twenty miles. However, there is a place for ethanol fuel.

Our food production is in peril. If farmers are left holding the petroleum bag, then they will fail to produce the food that we need. We will soon run out of easily exploited petroleum reserves. If farmers are dependent on the production of petroleum, worldwide famines will occur. We should make it our priority to see that this doesn't happen.

If we produce ethanol on the same farm where the grain is grown, then the cost of transportation will be overcome. If we use the resources available on the farms to produce the ethanol, then the energy deficit will be overcome. Farmers have access to wind resources that could be used for distilling the ethanol.

Farmers also have access to methane that could be for ethanol production. Capturing methane and using it on the farm will also remove green house gas from the atmosphere. Another asset farmers have is the enzyme used to convert starch into sugar.

If each farmer has a facility for processing the grain and distilling it into fuel for their farm equipment, then they won't be so dependent on petroleum production and food supplies could be insured when we reach the end of our petroleum reserves.

Insuring food production in our future is more important than even global warming. Famine can lead to sweeping deaths throughout the world,

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