Ethanol is crap energy.
One thing I’ve always found unique about politics in the Mountain West states, especially Montana, is that voters will look past their own self interest and vote on social issues important to them. At times it’s a blessing; others a curse.
An increasingly popular issue in my home state and other agricultural states is the mandatory mixing of ethanol with gasoline. A bill is currently being debated back home in Montana on the issue. My hometown newspaper recently wrote an editorial chastising state legislators who opposed the measure but didn’t give due consideration to the many reasons ethanol exacerbates all of the problems it is supposed to remedy.
Don’t get me wrong. I’m all about reducing American dependence on foreign oil and improving air quality. By that same token, measures that will increase the price of ag products coming from Montana would help some struggling farmers who could use a push.
My problem is with ethanol specifically. A single gallon of ethanol has an energy value of 77,000 BTUs. Producing that gallon, however, requires 131,000 BTUs of energy. Therefore, roughly seventy percent more energy is needed.
What a waste of power. And guess where all of the power will come from to produce that ethanol? Much of it will come from petroleum and some will come from hydroelectric power, but because the Midwest is heavily dependent upon coal (as is a sizeable chunk of Eastern Montana), burning that clean, renewable ethanol will cause more damage to the environment than if a gallon of simple unleaded had been used.
This in and of itself is enough for me to swear off ethanol as a possible energy alternative to fossil fuels. Beyond that, however, how much sense does it make to subsidize the burning of food? As much sympathy as I have for the American farmer, the hungry of this world are of far greater concern.
Nonetheless, Governor Schweitzer and a majority of the state legislature will support the measure because of its political efficacy. It seems that our unique ability to look past our own noses has its limits after all…
An increasingly popular issue in my home state and other agricultural states is the mandatory mixing of ethanol with gasoline. A bill is currently being debated back home in Montana on the issue. My hometown newspaper recently wrote an editorial chastising state legislators who opposed the measure but didn’t give due consideration to the many reasons ethanol exacerbates all of the problems it is supposed to remedy.
Don’t get me wrong. I’m all about reducing American dependence on foreign oil and improving air quality. By that same token, measures that will increase the price of ag products coming from Montana would help some struggling farmers who could use a push.
My problem is with ethanol specifically. A single gallon of ethanol has an energy value of 77,000 BTUs. Producing that gallon, however, requires 131,000 BTUs of energy. Therefore, roughly seventy percent more energy is needed.
What a waste of power. And guess where all of the power will come from to produce that ethanol? Much of it will come from petroleum and some will come from hydroelectric power, but because the Midwest is heavily dependent upon coal (as is a sizeable chunk of Eastern Montana), burning that clean, renewable ethanol will cause more damage to the environment than if a gallon of simple unleaded had been used.
This in and of itself is enough for me to swear off ethanol as a possible energy alternative to fossil fuels. Beyond that, however, how much sense does it make to subsidize the burning of food? As much sympathy as I have for the American farmer, the hungry of this world are of far greater concern.
Nonetheless, Governor Schweitzer and a majority of the state legislature will support the measure because of its political efficacy. It seems that our unique ability to look past our own noses has its limits after all…
posted by Your Friendly Neighborhood Clark Bar at 4/18/2005 03:25:00 PM
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2 Comments:
Clark, you blog like you used to debate. I can here you speaking as I read it.
All you need now is some ND internet porno and you will have the complete e-debate experience.
Ha. Old habits die hard, man. What can I say. :o)
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