The disadvantages of ethanol
Adam Testa/Online News Editor
Issue date: 10/19/06 Section: News
This is the fourth article in a five-part series regarding ethanol and its potential as a fuel alternative. A proposed ethanol plant in Charleston has made the topic an important issue in Coles County.
The evaluation of ethanol's potential as a fuel alternative has presented several disadvantages to the product's use.
Ethanol production damages the environment, produces lower fuel economies than gasoline, brings higher transportation costs than petroleum, and is unable to completely replace our oil supply, according to opponents of ethanol.
David Pimentel, professor of ecology and agricultural sciences at Cornell University, thinks the disadvantages of ethanol outweigh the benefits.
"Ethanol production in the United States does not benefit the nation's energy security, its agriculture, the economy or the environment," Pimentel said in a 2005 study addressing ethanol's potential as a fuel alternative.
Environmental harm
The main cause of environmental damage that production of ethanol causes comes from ethanol created from corn, Pimentel said. Several factors cause this damage.
"First of all, corn production causes more soil erosion than any other single crop grown in the nation," Pimentel said.
Mark Phelan, manager of the Coles County Farm Bureau, said Pimentel's claims of damages caused by corn are inaccurate or outdated.
"As far as erosion," he said, "we have enormously reduced soil erosion through conservation efforts."
A 1998 study conducted by the World Wildlife Fund supports Phelan's claim. The study addressed how soil erosion has been reduced during nearly 75 years.
In 1932, 2.75 metric tons of corn were produced per hectare per year. At this time, soil erosion totaled more than 37 metric tons per hectare per year.
Fifty years later, erosion rates decreased to 19.5 metric tons per hectare per year, according to the study.
By 1992, the Conservation Reserve Program removed 18 percent of all farmable land from production, including the areas with the highest erosion levels. After this action, corn production levels increased to 8.6 metric tons per hectare per year, and erosion levels decreased to 14 metric tons per hectare.
The evaluation of ethanol's potential as a fuel alternative has presented several disadvantages to the product's use.
Ethanol production damages the environment, produces lower fuel economies than gasoline, brings higher transportation costs than petroleum, and is unable to completely replace our oil supply, according to opponents of ethanol.
David Pimentel, professor of ecology and agricultural sciences at Cornell University, thinks the disadvantages of ethanol outweigh the benefits.
"Ethanol production in the United States does not benefit the nation's energy security, its agriculture, the economy or the environment," Pimentel said in a 2005 study addressing ethanol's potential as a fuel alternative.
Environmental harm
The main cause of environmental damage that production of ethanol causes comes from ethanol created from corn, Pimentel said. Several factors cause this damage.
"First of all, corn production causes more soil erosion than any other single crop grown in the nation," Pimentel said.
Mark Phelan, manager of the Coles County Farm Bureau, said Pimentel's claims of damages caused by corn are inaccurate or outdated.
"As far as erosion," he said, "we have enormously reduced soil erosion through conservation efforts."
A 1998 study conducted by the World Wildlife Fund supports Phelan's claim. The study addressed how soil erosion has been reduced during nearly 75 years.
In 1932, 2.75 metric tons of corn were produced per hectare per year. At this time, soil erosion totaled more than 37 metric tons per hectare per year.
Fifty years later, erosion rates decreased to 19.5 metric tons per hectare per year, according to the study.
By 1992, the Conservation Reserve Program removed 18 percent of all farmable land from production, including the areas with the highest erosion levels. After this action, corn production levels increased to 8.6 metric tons per hectare per year, and erosion levels decreased to 14 metric tons per hectare.
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Viewing Comments 1 - 8 of 11
Brian Peppers
posted 1/15/08 @ 1:25 PM CST
Ethanol is the Devlil
Mike
posted 1/18/08 @ 11:59 AM CST
Not to mention the amount of corn required to make the stuff! Food prices are rocketing because of increased ethanol production; food costs in sub-Saharan Africa have risen 110% because of the worldwide market price for corn, which has been driven up due to ethanol producers buying massive amounts of the crop. (Continued…)
UR MOM
posted 3/10/08 @ 5:11 PM CST
Ethanol is so bad. There is very few things good about it!!!
Bob Johnson
posted 3/13/08 @ 7:29 AM CST
ethanol is terrible for the enviorment and whoever uses it should stop because it is just so bad for the eniviorment
Danton McMullin
posted 4/08/08 @ 7:27 PM CST
ehtanol is a bad alternative to fossile fuels but it is better then nothing. There are lots of problemes with the whole idea of using corn as an alternative fuel but it is one of the only things we have to use with our tecnology at this point, so it is not all bad, but not even close to being all good either. (Continued…)
Zacharys Mom
posted 5/23/08 @ 10:38 AM CST
I had a dream that ethanol plants was the devil!!!!!!!
sandy
posted 11/23/08 @ 7:52 PM CST
ethanol is awesome,,, i eat it for breakfast.
moppey
posted 11/24/08 @ 4:18 PM CST
i love ethanol,, i think that this sandy kid could be my hero,
did you know i even wrote a comic strip about ethaboy and ethaman.
its pretty damn cool. (Continued…)
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