Ethanol: Science Based Solution or Special Interest Welfare
Posted on November 29, 2007 Comments (6)
I believe the way to deal with the need for energy resources should be primarily science and economics based. I do not think it should be based on who can best reward politicians for giving them a bunch of federal dollars. Ethanol Craze Cools As Doubts Multiply by Lauren Etter, Wall Street Journal
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A study coauthored by Nobel-prize-winning chemist Paul Crutzen said corn ethanol might exacerbate climate change as the added fertilizer used to grow corn raised emissions of a very potent greenhouse gas called nitrous oxide. The ethanol industry replies to that one with an Energy Department study concluding that use of ethanol reduces greenhouse-gas emissions by 18% to 28% on a per-gallon basis, provided that coal isn’t used to run ethanol plants.
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Mr. Dinneen, who has been lobbying on ethanol so long he’s known as the “reverend of renewable fuels,” says he’s “reasonably confident” Congress will raise the ethanol mandate. He says he’s talking with the military, labor groups, Southern black churches and others about how ethanol can help them. “We’ve got to build the biggest, baddest coalition we can.”
I am skeptical of claims that mainly focus on getting the government to subsidize your production and erect trade barriers to foreign supplies to the USA. I don’t mind a few $Billion even (quite a lot of money) to be invested in research on biofules but just creating a massive payment, taxation and regulation scheme to funnel money to special interests is not a good idea.
Related: Peak Soil – Ethanol Demand Threatens Food Prices – Farming Without Subsidies in New Zealand – MIT’s Energy “Manhattan Project” – posts on energy – Is alcohol the energy answer? – Biofuels: Green energy or grim reaper? – Farming Washington for Handouts – Washington Waste – Paying Money it Doesn’t Have to Special Interests – China and the Sugar Industry Tax Consumers – Study Slams Economics Of Ethanol And Biodiesel
6 Responses to “Ethanol: Science Based Solution or Special Interest Welfare”
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February 9th, 2008 @ 9:27 am
“The biofuels themselves produce less greenhouse gases than fossil fuels, but not nearly enough to offset the carbon dioxide that is released when land is cleared and plowed up to produce crops…”
March 2nd, 2009 @ 8:36 am
[…] Ethanol: Science Based Solution or Special Interest Welfare – Kudzu Biofuel Potential – Student Algae Bio-fuel Project by curiouscat Tags: […]
June 30th, 2009 @ 9:43 am
[…] Ethanol: Science Based Solution or Special Interest Welfare – Converting Emissions to Biofuels – Student Algae Bio-fuel Project – Kudzu Biofuel Potential – […]
April 17th, 2011 @ 2:33 pm
[…] Related: Food and Energy Costs July 2008 – Food Price Inflation is Quite High – You Can Help Reduce Extreme Poverty – Creating a World Without Poverty – Ethanol: Science Based Solution or Special Interest Welfare […]
September 10th, 2013 @ 2:52 am
This is a great view into how both parties foolishly risked the economy to provide favors to their big donors and golfing buddies…
February 14th, 2015 @ 11:14 am
They reject the copyright cartel closed science mindset; which is something I like. Their product takes waste biomass; for example walnut shells, coconut shells, hardwood chips (Oak, Beech), softwood chips (Douglas Fir, Pine)…