This is the real crux of the deal. While ethanol from corn is definitely carbon neutral that doesn't mean its a good replacement to gas. The question becomes can we produce enough ethanol from corn crops to offset the fuel costs needed to produce the corn in the first place. Add on top of that the monetary and ecological costs of extra fertilizer and pesticide use. The resulting total costs are greater than the benefit. While its a good deal for the corn producers, who are seeing the value of their crop increase, its not such a good deal for the rest of us who are also seeing the cost of food skyrocket. Other crops such as sugar cane have a much better return for energy spent - but they don't have a powerful lobby.
2 comments:
It's a stupid idea.
In many ways.
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