|
|
|
|
|
|
|
| Minnesota study claims corn ethanol is no better than gas |
|
|
|
MINNEAPOLIS, Minn. (AP) — A new University of Minnesota study has found corn ethanol is no better than gasoline when it comes to fuel – and may be worse for air quality.
The study estimated the economic costs to human health and well being from gasoline, corn-based ethanol and plant-based ethanol. Researchers concluded that ethanol made from switchgrass and other plant materials is far better than either corn ethanol or gasoline. The study examined life-cycle emissions of growing, harvesting, producing and burning different fuels.
“Our study shows that if we’re really going to make choices in the best interest of the public, we need to look not only at what’s cheapest to produce, but what are the costs to the public in terms of environmental and health effects,” said Jason Hill, research associate in applied economics and a resident fellow at the university’s Institute on the Environment.
The study said one major difference between corn-based and cellulosic ethanol is that biorefineries producing corn ethanol need to buy power, while those producing cellulosic can generate their own by burning plant waste. That adds another source of air pollution to corn ethanol.
The state estimates that ethanol is a $6 billion industry in Minnesota. An ethanol advocate said he hasn’t seen the study and will need time to understand how its conclusions were reached.
Some ethanol supporters, however, are already wary of the university. Last year, researchers there published a paper that said the exploding demand for biofuel would worsen global warming if farmers around the world clear forests and grasslands to grow more corn, soybeans and sugar cane.
“I’m stifling a yawn,” said Mark Hamerlinck, communications director for the Minnesota Corn Growers Assoc. “It would be news if the university had anything positive to say about corn ethanol. It’s how they make a living over there.”
Hamerlinck noted that whatever its benefits, cellulosic ethanol cannot yet be made on a large scale.
According to the National Corn Growers Assoc., another peer-reviewed study released by the University of Nebraska found “much more positive news when it came to greenhouse gas emissions” – that direct-effect greenhouse gas emissions were estimated to be equivalent to a 48-59 percent reduction compared to gasoline, a twofold to threefold greater reduction than reported in previous studies.
Hill said the Minnesota study was not biased against corn ethanol.
“We’re not coming at this with any preconceived notions of what the best fuel should be,” he said. “We’re just investigating and trying to take an independent look at the underlying factors and consequences of global energy and food use.”
The Minnesota study was published in last week’s issue of the Proceedings of the National Academy of Sciences. |
| 2/11/2009 |
|
|
|
|
