Corn Ethanol: Hero or Hype?

(Experts debate the extent of this concern.) * Even if all current U.S. corn production went to biofuels, we could offset just 12 percent of our current gasoline use, according to a 2006 study from the University of Minnesota. * Expanding ethanol production could diminish and pollute local water sup...

Full description

Saved in:
Bibliographic Details
Published in:The Mother earth news 2008-08 (229), p.22
Main Authors: Evers, Laura, Rockhold, John
Format: Magazinearticle
Language:English
Subjects:
Biodiesel fuels
Ethanol
Gasoline
Grain
Online Access:Get full text
Tags: Add Tag
No Tags, Be the first to tag this record!
Description
Summary:(Experts debate the extent of this concern.) * Even if all current U.S. corn production went to biofuels, we could offset just 12 percent of our current gasoline use, according to a 2006 study from the University of Minnesota. * Expanding ethanol production could diminish and pollute local water supplies. * The numbers are debated among scientists, but it appears that, at best, the energy produced by corn ethanol is only slightly more than the energy required to make it. Cellulosic ethanol is the subject of extensive and rapidly evolving research, as its energy bang for the buck is much greater than that for corn ethanol - with anywhere from twice to four or five times the energy output versus the input (depending on the source and production technique).
ISSN:0027-1535