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Maize of
Deception: How Corn-Based Ethanol Can Lead To Starvation and
Environmental Disaster |
Ethanol Fuels
Are Not Necessarily The Universal Cure
By Council on Hemispheric Affairs Research Associate
Eliana Monteforte
June 12, 2007: As the Bush administration continues
to push its alternative fuels agenda, it has become
increasingly evident that corn-based ethanol could be as
much the global villain as a boon to society. Instead of
improving the environment and moderating oil prices,
corn-based ethanol could result in mass deforestation,
strained land and water resources, increased food prices,
augmented poverty and swarms of farmers uprooted from the
land. While the negative effects of corn-based biofuels are
obvious, Washington continues to emphasize their importance,
while increasing the size and number of subventions to the
ethanol industry. This is being done despite the adverse
ramifications that its cultivation is having on the sites
where it already is being produced, with the situation
likely to further deteriorate in the near future. |
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The Emergence
of Ethanol
Ethanol is a substance created by the fermentation of simple
sugars. In the United States, corn is the main source for
ethanol production, while other countries like Brazil rely
on a sugar cane process as well as other plants and
byproducts to be used in making alternative energy sources.
Typically, ethanol is mixed into gasoline creating
“gasohol,” resulting in higher octane ratings, improved
combustion, and is viewed as more environmentally friendly.
Currently, around 30% of gasoline in the United States
contains some ethanol, and U.S. initiatives indicate the
possibility for much larger concentrations in coming years.
Read More at COHA's Website |
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