Ethanol Green Myth

Ethanol Fuel, the Green Myth
Who in the United States of America does not like a good ear of corn or two to eat? It is a food staple in many of our households throughout this great country and helps to feed the world’s ever growing population. It is also used to produce a biofuel and gasoline fuel additive called ethanol, and is being promoted as environmentally friendlier, has less of a carbon footprint on the earth then fossil fuels like gasoline and oil do, and will fully reduce our dependency on foreign oil. Unfortunately, some new research now indicates that ethanol’s production, and its use as a biofuel and fuel additive, may not be as green for the environment, or our wallets, as we are being led to believe it is. Ethanol’s production
In actuality it takes one-point-seven times more energy to produce and process the corn for ethanol, and then have to distill it than we save from actually using it as a fuel for our vehicles (Potera A18). It is also a myth that we as a country will somehow or someday ever be one-hundred percent free from foreign oil use or importation. Professor David Pimentel of Cornell University in Ithaca, New York states that "The myth is that ethanol frees us from dependence on oil, yet we actually import oil to run ethanol plants and grow the corn," (qtd. in Potera A18). Ethanol may initially be cheaper when you are filling your vehicle up at the gas-pump, about thirty-cents less per gallon, but when you factor in ethanol blended fuels poorer gas-mileage, the overall cost is slightly higher for most drivers (Newman 2012). It is also more harmful for car engines then regular non-ethanol fuels are, reducing the engines longevity and hitting our pocket books when it comes to repairs. Scott Faber, the Vice President of Government Affairs for The Environmental Working Group (EWG) whose mission is to “empower people to live healthier lives in a healthier environment.” stated is a 2013 press release that "Ethanol is more corrosive and burns hotter than gasoline, properties that could cause some engines to stall, misfire and overheat.” He further stated that fuel with higher ethanol blends emits more pollutants like nitrous oxide and formaldehyde than gasoline does, and it also lowers gas-mileage and damages the vehicles fuel tanks and pumps (Faber 2013). Not only is ethanol not as green as once thought, lowers gas mileage, and is harmful for engines, it is also taking a toll on food prices and availability around the