Ethanol: Feed a Person for a Year or Fill Up an SUV?

While politicians and Big Agriculture insist on casting the need for ethanol in terms of national security, the larger issue is a moral one: are we going to use our precious farmland to grow food, or use it to make motor fuel?

The ethanol scam just keeps getting more and more absurd. In January, three U.S. senators -- two Democrats, Tom Harkin of Iowa and Barack Obama of Illinois, along with Indiana Republican Richard Lugar -- introduced a bill that would promote the use of ethanol. It also mandates the use of more biodiesel and creates tax credits for the production of cellulosic ethanol. They called their bill the "American Fuels Act of 2007."

The most amazing part of ... Full Story »

Posted by Dale Penn
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Subjects: Business, Sci/Tech
Topics: Energy, Environment
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Posted by: Posted by Dale Penn - Mar 5, 2007 - 7:59 AM PST
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Edited by: Dale Penn - Mar 5, 2007 - 8:02 AM PST

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3.3
by Dale Penn - Mar. 5, 2007

This opinion piece had me until the last sentence. "...are we going to use our precious farmland to grow food, or are we going to subsidize the growth of an industry that turns food into a commodity, motor fuel, of which we already have an abundant supply?" Abundant supply? Did I miss a memo on peak oil?

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3.5
by Mike LaBonte - Mar. 5, 2007

Like many opinion articles, this one a light on evidence. Unfortunate since this particular subject has people arguing in both directions, and more hard facts are needed. Gives a very good overview of U.S. petroleum history. Accurate.

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4.7
by Michael D. Lowe - Mar. 6, 2007

This well sourced & the authors conclusions are in plain site. A bit inflammatory in style maybe but still solid. There are reports coming out of Mexico that the lack of seed corn caused by US corn producers snapping up the supply has caused the price of corn to soar. So there are already some very real effects being felt. Most discussions of crop fuel sources do not take into account the full cost of production. Phosphate fertilizer run off, water table depletion, lack of ... More »

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3.6
by Nick Pollitt - Mar. 5, 2007
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4.1
by John Ferriere - Mar. 8, 2007
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5.0
by Jami Dwyer - Mar. 5, 2007
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