Is it true that the production and use of ethanol creates more waste and pollution than petroleum fuels?

Question

Please quote the sources for your answers.

Answer 1

No, it is not true at all. Big oil has created all kinds of lies because they feel threatened by ethanol. Ethanol is way better for our environment and heres why:

Cars running on ethanol, which is distilled from agricultural crops and biomass are governed by the same laws of physics as those using petrol in that both fuels emit CO2 as a consequence of combustion, however the crucial difference is that burning ethanol recycles CO2 because it has already been removed from the atmosphere by photosynthesis during the natural growth of agricultural crops, such as corn plants. A corn plant removes CO2 from the atmosphere and uses it to grow and produce cornstarch. The plant is harvested and the cornstarch is fermented into ethanol. The ethanol is burned and the cycle repeats. NO NEW NET CARBON is added to the atmosphere when you use ethanol, unlike gasoline which spews tons of carbon into the atmosphere which has been trapped beneath the earth's surface for millions of years in the form of crude oil. You can burn all the ethanol you want and you are not contributing one iota to global warming. You are simply recycling carbon. And creating demand for ethanol by using it in your car stimulates farmers to plant more corn to meet the demand. More corn means more CO2 is removed from the atmosphere because corn, like all plants, takes in CO2 and gives off oxygen via photosynthesis. So not only are you not adding any new carbon to the air when you use ethanol, you are stimulating the planting of more corn plants which naturally fight global warming via photosynthesis.

In addition, using ethanol means no more devastating oil spills in the ocean which destroy all kinds of marine life and birds. And ethanol is now being produced via "green" means with ZERO fossil fuels used in the process. Read that again---ZERO FOSSIL FUELS ARE BEING USED TO MAKE ETHANOL. Ethanol plants are using wind energy and biomass exclusively for power because it saves them a heap on their natural gas bill. Below are 2 links to prove it:

http://www.connectbiz.com/stories/moonshine.html

http://www.greencarcongress.com/2006/12/ethanol_plant_t.html

Answer 2

I wouldn't think so, the logic pointed out in the previous posts are valid. By no means is Ethanol a cure-all for the corner we are painting ourselves into, but I have been using vegetable oil awhile in my car now, and it works, but I have not seen 35% increase in fuel economy with it, more like 5%, with some vehicles seeing a decrease in economy.

There is another thing about ethanol which seems to be ignored right now. You don't need grain to make it! Stalks and foliage works too! You don't need fertilizer either, and the weeds ferment too. Ethanol and biodiesel can both be made with the same crop, extract the oil first, and then ferment the rest!

Ethanol production needs to be made more efficient, definitely! People need to be more efficient too. The first thing a person does when they get a more fuel efficient vehicle is to drive more, what a waste, even at 60MPG!

Answer 3

Well I'm not a scientist... so I don't know.

But I do know the oil companies strongly oppose E85 and REFUSE to invest in it. The US automakers have expressed a lot of frustration with the oil industry because of their refusal to add E85 to their infrastructure.

GM, Ford, and Chrysler combined have put 5 million flex fuel vehicles on the road (about as many vehicles sold in an entire year). They have single handily created a market for a product that doesn't exist in most areas.

Answer 4

Not was an petroleum, but the amount of energy that it takes to make a gallon of ethanol is about the same as you get, so it is not as great as some think. Producing ethanol takes a lot of water, a lot of electricity and a ton of grain. The grain has to be transported, sometimes hundreds of miles to places with enough water to suopport a plant... The better option is the electric car!

Answer 5

Use of crops to make ethanol fuel puts the motor car in direct competition with crops for food.
This will put food prices up which will hit billions of poor people.
It will also put pressure on the environment as more land is pressed into high production, causing more deforestation (that is of pristine natural forests) and acceleration of soil degradation.

Answer 6

No, but the better option is the diesel car running on biodiesel. Biodiesel can be made from waste products without the large water usage. Diesels also get much better fuel economy too. About 40% better!

Answer 7

The greenest cars on Yahoo!Autos use gasoline, but the greenest vehicles in the world are electric and solar.
www.revaindia.com
www.attrd.com
www.evworld.com --- here you can find a list of EV producers

Answer 8

Why I just put it down Father .. very amazing what they can do with solid waste in Nebraska .. did you read chapter ten yet ?

Answer 9

RECENTLY WNEP (THE MOOSIC,PA. AFFILIATE OF ABC)
RAN A STORY ABOUT PEOPLE OPPOSE TO THE PRODUCTION OF ETHANOL IN THEIR AREA DUE TO CONCERNS ABOUT POLLUTION. IT SEEMS TO ME THERE IS SOME TRUTH TO THIS.

Answer 10

NOPE!

Ethanol production involves no hydrocarbons like in crude.

Corn doesn't contain asphalt, creosote, sulfer or many other cancer causing agents.