Author Topic: Ethanol Production causes harms the environment! (Read 1935 times)

Bodhi · « **on:** February 08, 2008, 06:58:07 PM »

Saw this on NBC news tonight:

Recent studies are showing the the production of Ethanol is causing more harm to the environment than does the continued use of regular old gasoline and diesel.

The studies show that the removal of high green house gas absorbing flora such as trees, shrubs, and grasses to grow corn, soybeans, and bigrasses is causing more harm to the environment than had they been left in place.

The studies are also showing that the increased clearing of wild land to grow biofuels in areas like South America, the Phillipines, and Indonesia and the increased uses of heavy machinery to support these operations is creating a far higher carbon debt than the actual use of ethanol reduces.

Gotta love the knee jerk reactions. Press full production of the new technology without studying the effects.

Thanks Al!

crockett · « **Reply #1 on:** February 08, 2008, 07:32:36 PM »

Is not your post also a "knee jerk reaction"?

First off corn and soybean ethanol are two of the worst and are nothing but scams. There are other forms of ethanol that are better suited for producing fuel and not bad for the enviorment. Only reason corn and soybeans are being pushed is because our govt works for lobbyist not what's good for our country and it's people.

People whom have a clue are not pushing that kind of ethanol, that stuff is being pushed by the Farmers union lobbyist, big oil and it's eatin up by our corrupt political system. At least here in the US, can't really speak for those other countries.

Donzo · « **Reply #2 on:** February 08, 2008, 07:34:05 PM »

Yep.

And in addition to all this I read that there is an indication that the carbon that biofuels emit when burned is offset by the carbon that the plants they were made from absorb from the atmosphere while growing.

Net effect = zero

SAVE PLANET!!!!!!!

Have you hugged a tree today?

SD67 · « **Reply #3 on:** February 08, 2008, 07:51:42 PM »

Here in Oz sugar cane has been used for ethanol production for years.

john9001 · « **Reply #4 on:** February 08, 2008, 07:52:34 PM »

Quote

Originally posted by SD67
Here in Oz sugar cane has been used for ethanol production for years.

same for Brazil.

lasersailor184 · « **Reply #5 on:** February 08, 2008, 07:55:59 PM »

Ethanol in gas causes roughly 30% less gas mileage.

Meatwad · « **Reply #6 on:** February 08, 2008, 08:22:42 PM »

My truck can run on E-85, but I have never put a single drop in it.

I always use 89 octane unleaded gasolene

SD67 · « **Reply #7 on:** February 08, 2008, 08:27:52 PM »

We have E10 here (10% ethanol) and I wouldn't touch it with a barge pole.

Donzo · « **Reply #8 on:** February 08, 2008, 08:58:56 PM »

Quote

Originally posted by lasersailor184
Ethanol in gas causes roughly 30% less gas mileage.

And costs just about the same as regular unleaded.

But hey, it's good for the environment.

trax1 · « **Reply #9 on:** February 08, 2008, 09:07:23 PM »

In other countries(like Brazil) you have a choice of regular fuel, or ethanol fuel, and the ethanol is much cheaper, but there ethanol is made mostly from sugar.

lasersailor184 · « **Reply #10 on:** February 08, 2008, 09:08:04 PM »

Quote

Originally posted by Donzo
And costs just about the same as regular unleaded.

But hey, it's good for the environment.

Well, with about a 30% reduction in mileage, you end up using the SAME amount of straight gas as before, and you're spending 50% more.

Donzo · « **Reply #11 on:** February 08, 2008, 09:20:40 PM »

Quote

Originally posted by lasersailor184
Well, with about a 30% reduction in mileage, you end up using the SAME amount of straight gas as before, and you're spending 50% more.

I know. The logic behind this movement kicks ass!

Airscrew · « **Reply #12 on:** February 08, 2008, 11:40:21 PM »

Quote

Originally posted by Donzo
I know. The logic behind this movement kicks ass!

Logic? what logic? Logic's not important, whats important is "How do you feel?" "Do you feel good?" "Do you feel like you're doing something to stop Global Warming/Climate Change/Save the Whales?"

rpm · « **Reply #13 on:** February 09, 2008, 12:21:22 AM »

This report is very misinformed and highly misleading. It must have been produced by The Bush Administration.

As stated earlier corn is a very poor crop to make ethanol from. You can thank Archer-Daniels-Midland for corn based ethanol. Switchgrass is a much better source with much higher yields. It can also be grown in areas unsuitable for corn. Plus switchgrass is not a foodstuff and would have no effect on food prices.

Ethanol is a good thing and we need to produce a lot more than we do.

LePaul · « **Reply #14 on:** February 09, 2008, 12:48:38 AM »

Its too bad they havent developed oil shale production....this can be processed into synthetic crude oil. (http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Oil_shale)

Production would require some serious investment, but we have an abundance of oil shale and could certainly ditch the need for mideast oil. Combined with conservation and more efficient engineering in cars , trucks and jet engines, this could be a real help.

The thing with crude oil versus the other options is the fact petroleum simply packs more power in its atoms. Its going to be really difficult to replace gasoline fuels just comparing the energy levels to each other.