Ethanol Fuel Disadvantages – No
Ethanol Fuel: Is this really the dream solution Americahas been looking for?
Is E85 fuel a scam or a solution? This is one of many questions the American public is asking themselves. This is a very important issue because if public support for this concept grows, you may be experiencing a great change in what you pump into your car when you go to the future "ethanol fuel" stations. Also, your everyday food expenses will skyrocket, stressing your family's budget. For these reasons, legislation that supports E85 fuel should not be passed or imposed upon the American public. The disadvantages of E85 fuel outweigh the advantages, making it an ineffective fuel. Also, the American public has been tricked into thinking that E85 fuel is a good alternative fuel. And lastly, the problem of dependence on foreign oil, which is at the core of the issue, can be solved more efficiently and effectively.
In order to understand why E85 fuel is ineffective, we must discuss the problems with this fuel. For instance, numerous studies have found that E85 fuel creates less energy than is required to make it. According to Dr. Pimentel of Cornell University, 70% more British Thermal Units of energy are required to produce ethanol than is actually in it. This is a problem because if E85 produces less energy than is used to make it, why even bother manufacturing it. Even though E85 fuel costs less at first glance, it is inefficient in other areas. According to BusinessWeek, E85 fuel reduces gas mileage up to 40%, making you pay more. This is a problem because if E85 costs more than our current gasoline, why produce E85 when we already have a more cost effective fuel.
Another problem with E85 fuel is that it hurts other parts of the economy. Increases in ethanol fuel production requires 34% more corn than in previous years, causing food prices, especially corn, to spike. According to Birger, the rise in food costs will continue, causing problems for cattlemen and hog farmers because of rising feed costs. This is a problem because rising food costs could hurt the average American family and also cause the raising of domestic animals to become much more costly.
Ethanol fuel does not help our environment. "Due to its ozone effects, future E85 may be a greater overall risk than gasoline," Jacobson of the EPA wrote. " E85 is unlikely to improve air quality over future gasoline vehicles". Pimentel says, "Corn production erodes soil about 12 times faster than the soil can be reformed, and irrigating corn mines groundwater 25% faster than the recharge rate" He estimates these damages cost 23 cents per gallon of ethanol. Since we already have gasoline, which affects the environment no worse than E85, it is not worth wasting money to change our main fuel to E85.
Now that we have discussed how E85 is an ineffective fuel, it is important to understand why this fuel is being supported nationwide. For example, according to the Renewable Fuels Association, "ethanol is a high-octane fuel that provides superior engine performance". This statement gives people the false idea that E85 is a much better fuel than gasoline, while it really reduces gas mileage up to 40%. Another cause for E85 support is that many believe the RFA's claim that "renewable ethanol will help to reduce harmful emissions that contribute to global warming". But the RFA's claim is wrong because, according to Jacobson, "E85 is unlikely to improve air quality" and is likely to increase cases of inflamed lungs and heart disease. Also, some say that ethanol is a prime source of income for farmers. But future expenses like the farmers' equipment, fertilizer, and land will skyrocket, decreasing their income. Finally, another reason for E85 support is that most people think that ethanol is cheaper than regular gasoline. According to BusinessWeek, there is only a 3 cent advantage, which will be eliminated if ethanol is exclusively used.
In order to know what we can do to stop the passage of E85 laws, we must discuss possible solutions. One solution is that we could reduce our gasoline usage. First of all, we can use other environmentally safe fuels like plug-in hybrids that use electricity made from wind or solar power. These vehicles can achieve over 100 mpg for only $1 per gallon, while reducing oil consumption by 75% and emissions by 50%. Second of all, we should support legislation recently passed by the Senate to increase mpg ratings for all vehicles up to 35 mpg by 2020. This will, according to CNN, save "2.5 million barrels of oil a day." These are some solutions because they solve our problem of dependence on foreign oil without using ethanol. Lastly, you could also spread the truth about ethanol. When you hear hyperboles about how good ethanol is, stand up and tell them the facts I am telling you. This is a solution because it helps the American public realize they should oppose pro-ethanol fuel laws.
Evidently, E85 fuel legislation should not be passed or imposed upon the American public. E85 causes many problems for us, including lowering our gas mileage severely and making our food prices skyrocket. False propaganda is making E85 a big issue, by spreading incorrect information that E85 increases farmers' profits and is very cost-effective. Reducing our dependence on foreign oil is at the core of this issue. We can accomplish this by conserving gasoline and supporting legislation for more fuel efficient cars. According to the evidence I have presented to you, E85 fuel is a scam and not a solution. If anyone ever tells you otherwise, just debunk their claims with the evidence that I have presented to you, and you might have just changed their mind.
Works Cited
Baden, John A. "Is Ethanol a Pure Green Elixir?" BozemanDaily Chronicle 18 October 2006.
Birger, Jon. "The Great Corn Gold Rush." The Educational Forum 16 April 2007: 75-9. Wilson Select Plus. First Search. MaineWest High School LRC. 18 June 2007 <http://newfirstsearch.oclc.org/images/WSPL/wsppdfl/HTML/03179/4NV6I/BFV.HTM>.
Ethanol Facts. 2005. Renewable Fuels Association. 24 June 2007 < http://www.ethanolrfa.org/resource/facts/>.
"Ethanol Fuel from Corn Faulted as Unsustainable Subsidized Food Burning'." Health and Energy 14 June 2007. 26 June 2007 <http://healthandenergy.com/ethanol.htm>.
Flakus, Greg. "American Farmers Benefit from New Emphasis on Ethanol." VOA News 21 June 2007. 26 June 2007 < http://www.voanews.com/english/2007-06-21-voa17.cfm>.
Steinwand, Michael. "Ethanol may not reduce air pollution, study finds." The California Aggie 23 April 2007. 26 June 2007 <http://media.www.californiaaggie.com/media/storage/paper981/news/2007/04/23/ScienceTech/Science.Scene-2874009.shtml>.
"The Ethanol Myth." Consumer Reports October 2006: 15-19.
Wallace, Ed. "Ethanol: A Tragedy in 3 Acts." BusinessWeek 27 April 2007.
