ETHANOL SUBSIDIES
Since 1980 when I chaired a scientific committee on ethanol technology for the U.S. Department of Energy, I have continued investigating the ethanol science and technology. Corn grown for ethanol production uses the same land utilized for food and feed production. As with all crop production, large quantities of fossil energy are expended for mechanization, fertilizers, pesticides, and transportation. In addition to the energy input to raise the corn, the large energy inputs are required to convert the 8% ethanol in the original fermentation product into 99% ethanol fuel. Currently the million of gallons of ethanol produced at enormous costs are only sufficient to fuel only 1% of U.S. automobiles! Overlooked by the public are the many millions of dollars of taxpayer money that is used to subsidize ethanol production. Unfortunately, farmers get little benefit from ethanol production, less than 1¢ per bushel. The real beneficiaries are the large ethanol processors (more than 70¢ per bushel). If the total fossil energy inputs for producing the corn grain and the fermentation/distillation are included, about 70% more fossil energy is required to produce 1 gallon of ethanol than the energy that actually is in the ethanol. Ethanol production in addition, contributes to global warming and air and water pollution. In summary, numerous studies have confirmed that ethanol production does not enhance energy security, is not a renewable energy source, is not an economical fuel, and does not insure clean air. We can learn a lesson from Brazil, which was once the largest producer of ethanol in the world. When the Brazilian government stopped its costly ethanol subsidies, the producers of ethanol who were in the past making millions of dollars stopped producing ethanol!

David Pimentel
Professor
College of Agriculture and Life Sciences
Cornell University
147 N. Sunset Dr.
Ithaca, NY 14850
Tel. 607-272-2668