No Food For Fuel – Chapter 1

When I thought about of starting this blog, my original title was ‘No Food For Fuel’. One reason was because I thought it was too focused and limiting. It’s not only about energy, but the forces that drive energy prices, current sources and innovation to bridge us to the next viable energy source.

However, some people just don’t see things as I do.

There is no doubt that corn is a versatile crop. I may be simplifying things, but I view corn as a ‘food’ source rather than a fuel source. Before all my friends in Iowa and surrounding states jump all over me, I’d just like to say that you good folks can still produce all the corn you want and it will still be sold. I oppose the subsidies given to companies to produce corn for fuel and not for food is beyond comprehension.

Ethanol may burn cleaner but it takes far more energy to produce than petroleum-based fuels. It is also more expensive. Brazil may be energy independent because they use ‘food based’ fuel, in their case – sugar cane – but what was their trade-off? (Are you listening, Mr. Gore) The Amazon rainforest! I can still hear the clamoring about destroying the rainforest by green groups the world over. Now, we celebrate the fact Brazil is energy independent. Again I ask, at what cost?

Let me make this proposal: remove the legislation mandadting the use of ethanol and let’s see if it is still used and if some to what extent.

The markets will tell us which direction to go.

E.P.A. Declines to Reduce the Quota for Ethanol in Cars – NYTimes.com.