As food prices rise lawmakers debate Etahnol's benefits

[run2Jesus]

http://www.foxnews.com/story/0,2933,354350,00.html

[run2Jesus]

Just months ago, ethanol was the Holy Grail to energy independence and a "green fuel" that would help nudge the country away from climate changing fossil energy.

Democrats and Republicans cheered its benefits as Congress directed a fivefold increase in ethanol use as a motor fuel. President Bush called it key to his strategy to cut gasoline use by 20 percent by 2010.

But now with skyrocketing food costs -- even U.S. senators are complaining about seeing shocking prices at the supermarket -- and hunger spreading across the globe, some lawmakers are wondering if they made a mistake.

"Our enthusiasm for corn ethanol deserves a second look. That's all I'm saying, a second look," said Rep. Jane Harman, D-Calif., at a House hearing Tuesday where the impact of ethanol on soaring food costs was given a wide airing.

The dramatic reversal has stunned ethanol producers and its supporters in Washington as they have seen their product shift from being an object of praise to one of derision.

Sen. Charles Grassley, R-Iowa, one of the Senate's two working farmers and a longtime ethanol booster, said
more at above link...

[Katrina]

It's about time!! There are so many different ways to create energy that making fuel from foodstuff is just plain thoughtless of the long term effects of doing so.

Now....find a way to make fuel from grass clippings...dandelions....pig poop...I'm all in!!!!

P.S. Pig poop is huge here in Nebraska:thumb

[run2Jesus]

I felt it was insane from the very beginning. :doh For one thing, drought and pestilence is always a possibility in any given year. Look at the problems they have faced with the long term drought in Australia. To take our precious food commodities and convert them to gasoline is just wasteful!:ohno

[SumSam]

Ethanol from corn is quite inefficient compared to even crops like sugarcane...the entire cane, leaves, stalk, husk and all, can be fed into the converters...while only the corn kernels can be used in case of corn.

Whoever thought up the corn ethanol scheme sure didn't think things through huh? :(

And whoever can get the whole corn ethanol loony scheme firmly scuppered and scrapped deserves a Nobel Peace prize, not Al Gore! :heh

[shayera]

I say shut down the corn ethanol immediately!

[tygerkittn]

I think we're doing it on purpose to create as much demand for our wheat and corn as the Arabs have for their oil. It's the best way to get a bargaining chip for oil with the dollar sliding, ooops, millions of poor people die along the way, too bad.
If history decides that theory is right, the US has no chance of ever being viewed in a positive light, and deservedly so. And since everyone knew before they started this that ethanol was a major waste of time, I remember reading it years ago, it looks like that theory could hold water.

[Southern Grace]

I say shut down the corn ethanol immediately!

AMEN! AND AGAIN AMEN!

[ftwspursfan]

It's about time!! There are so many different ways to create energy that making fuel from foodstuff is just plain thoughtless of the long term effects of doing so.

Now....find a way to make fuel from grass clippings...dandelions....pig poop...I'm all in!!!!

P.S. Pig poop is huge here in Nebraska:thumb

Any chemists around here? I wonder if animal dung could be liquified into a fuel additive to keep the air clean? :hehee Are your Nebraska pig farms producing methane from the dung? I wonder how much better Pilgrims Pride might be doing if they were producing methane.

[HisAlways]

I don't even know one person that uses ethanol gas. Does ANYONE in Washington have a clue?

Why don't we just drill for our OWN oil? It's so simple.